It was midway through the second quarter of the Toronto Argonauts’ game against the BC Lions last week when quarterback Ricky Ray made his familiar drop into the pocket and threw a dart to wide receiver Tori Gurley.

The play went for 28 yards and helped set up a tying field goal. In the fourth quarter Ray again found Gurley, this time hitting him with a 15-yard touchdown in the end zone, giving the Argos a 21-6 lead.

Neither pass will be remembered as the most spectacular in the CFL this season. But they were throws Ray used to wonder if he would ever make again as he battled to recover from a shoulder injury.

“The last couple of years have been tough, just trying to overcome some of the injuries,” said Ray, who completed 23 of 32 passes for 283 yards and a touchdown in Toronto’s 25-14 win over the previously unbeaten Lions.

“It’s nice to go out there and not have to deal with having the soreness and the pain I’ve had in the past. Just go out there and throw without any thinking of that.”

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Gurley has seen a steady progression in Ray’s throwing.

“Whatever he did in the off-season is paying dividends,” said Gurley. “He is able to drive the ball and make every throw.

“He’s back.”

Ray has lived in a twilight zone the last three years. Many wondered if the 36-year-old from Happy Camp, Calif., would ever be the player that led teams to three Grey Cup Championships, most recently in 2012 with Toronto.

Ray played through shoulder pain for two seasons before surgery in November 2014 to repair a torn labrum in his right throwing shoulder and a small tear in his right rotator cuff. He missed most of last season recovering from the procedure before starting Toronto’s final two regular-season games and the 25-22 loss to Hamilton in the Eastern Semi-Final.

This off-season Ray spent time working with Tom House, a former major league pitcher who now tutors quarterbacks. The list of NFL quarterbacks House has worked with includes Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Carson Palmer, Matt Cassel and Tim Tebow.

“He teaches mechanics, how to use your body in sequence, different drills,” said Ray.

One of the lessons Ray learned is how to properly warmup his shoulder prior to practice or a game.

“Before I had the shoulder problems you’d just pick up the ball and start throwing,” said Ray. “Now I have to try and get my shoulders warmed up a little bit before I even pick up a ball.

“That’s just a product of getting older and having some shoulder problems. It just takes a little bit longer to get through that routine and get warmed up.”

Travis Lulay, the veteran Lions’ quarterback who came on in relief of starter Jonathan Jennings against Toronto, understands better than most the challenges Ray has faced.

Lulay, who has dealt with shoulder problems of his own the last two years, has also worked with House and follows a similar warmup regime as Ray.

“If I didn’t think it helped I wouldn’t do it,” said Lulay, who completed 12 of 15 passes for 156 yards, a touchdown and an interception against Toronto. “It’s part of my regular routine. I believe it’s been part of my shoulder coming back.”

Lulay is pleased to see Ray being productive again.

“I don’t think he’s fully comfortable yet,” he said. “It’s good to see him make the throws that he wants to make.

“I know all too well the path he has walked. It really is a physical grind (and) mentally it’s challenging. There are times you question if you will ever be able to do what you’ve always known how to do. “

In three games this season Ray has completed 62 of 90 passes for 751 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. Against the Lions he became the fifth CFL quarterback to pass 53,000 yards in his career. He needs just 120 yards to pass Danny McManus’s 53,255 and move into fourth place in the CFL’s all-time passing list.

Toronto coach Scott Milanovich said Ray is improving every week. He chuckled when asked if it’s fair to expect the 2016 edition of Ricky Ray to be the same player that was the MVP of 2005 Grey Cup game.

“It’s probably unfair but I expect it too,” he said. “When he doesn’t play nearly perfect football we’re shocked, I’m shocked, he’s shocked.

“It’s because he has set the bar so high and we know what he is capable of. I still think he’s that guy. We will see it again.”

There’s still a lot of football to be played this year. The Argos (2-1) will face another challenge when they host the Ottawa REDBLACKS (2-0-1) this week at BMO Field.

Athletes often talk about focusing only on what they can control. So far this season Ray can focus on playing the game without spending time worrying over the health of his shoulder.

“It’s not that I don’t worry about it now,” he said. “It’s always something I’m going to have to get warmed up and makes sure I am doing all my pre-hab, taking care of it a little bit better at this point of my career.

“I haven’t had any problems. It’s been feeling good all through training camp and even into this part of the season. I am hoping it will continue to get better as the season goes along.”