It’s a good thing the Argos – like most teams – have their quarterbacks group support each other – and just as importantly – learn from each other.

Now, with Ricky Ray missing at least Friday’s game in Montreal with a sore shoulder, the focus shifts to backups Cody Fajardo and Jeff Matthews to run the offence.

The group effort should give a leg up to Fajardo and Mathews in Montreal, as the Argos enter week 8 attempting to snap a two-game losing skid.

“It’s kind of similar to what I had in Hamilton (Ticats). We had a good group of guys and you learn things from that,” Mathews said as the Argos wrapped up four days of practice Wednesday with both he and Fajardo taking the reps at quarterback.

“You learn how to prepare and be ready to play. . . . We’re excited to get the opportunity.”

Ray, who took a hard pop on the shoulder during last Thursday’s loss to Calgary, threw only on the sidelines during practice this week.

An MRI came back negative, and with slow, steady improvement through treatment this week, Ray feels he’s in a day-to-day situation with his injury.

“Basically, that’s it right now, virtually every day I’ve been getting better, so that’s a good thing,” said Ray, who will travel with the team to Montreal.

Quarterback protection remains a concern for the Argos, who have given up a CFL-leading 20 sacks this season (all on Ray).

Their most immediate concern, though, is deciding on who to start in Montreal — Fajardo or Matthews.

Coach Marc Trestman has a good idea of his choice, but he said he’s going to “sleep on it” one more night, then make the announcement Thursday in Montreal.

“I see both of them as potential starters in this league,” Trestman said. “They have different styles, but both are very capable of playing in this offence. We wouldn’t change our offence with either one of them in there.”

Fajardo may have an inside edge, at least to start. But Trestman did not rule both quarterbacks seeing playing time Friday in Montreal.

Fajardo, the 25-year-old from the University of Nevada, has been primarily used on short-yardage plays, when gains of one yard or less are needed.

His running ability should be an asset to the Argos against Montreal, which is the CFL’s top-rated team defending the rush.

Mathews, while having no regular season game reps this season, has been working with Steve Walsh, the Argos assistant offensive coach who works with quarterbacks, and Tommy Condell, the receivers coach, who worked with Mathews in Hamilton as the Ticats offensive line coach.

“It’s part of the game,” said Mathews, 25, from Cornell.

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“We take it on and its part of our job. When you get an opportunity, its all you can ask for.”

Ray, meanwhile, said the Argos four quarterbacks — rookie Dakota Prukop has been playing on special teams — are “all here trying to help each other.”