2023 Toronto Argonauts season explained

Team:Toronto Argonauts
Year:2023
Record:16–2
Division Place:1st, East
President:Bill Manning
General Manager:Michael Clemons
Coach:Ryan Dinwiddie
Stadium:BMO Field
Playoffs:Lost East Final
Mop:Chad Kelly
Modp:Adarius Pickett
Moc:Royce Metchie
Mool:Dejon Allen
Most:Javon Leake
Mor:Qwan'tez Stiggers
Shortnavlink:Argonauts seasons
Uniform:CFL TOR Jersey 2023.png

The 2023 Toronto Argonauts season was the 65th season for the team in the Canadian Football League and their 150th year of existence. The Argonauts entered the season as defending champions following their victory in the 109th Grey Cup. The team attempted to win their league-leading 19th Grey Cup championship, but were defeated by the Montreal Alouettes in the East Final.

The Argonauts qualified for the playoffs for a third consecutive season following their week 11 victory over the Montreal Alouettes.[1] In the following week, on September 15, 2023, the Argonauts defeated the Alouettes again to secure first place in the division for the third straight year, which was the first time since 19821984 that the franchise captured three straight division titles.[2] The team also started the season with an 11–1 record which was the best start to a season in franchise history.[2] The Argonauts also set a CFL record as the earliest to clinch a first place finish with six games remaining in an 18-game schedule.[3] The previous record was held by the 2009 Montreal Alouettes, who clinched first place in the East Division with five games remaining.[3] In the final game of the regular season, the Argonauts won their 16th game, tying the 1989 Edmonton Eskimos for the CFL record for most wins in a regular season.[4] However, their season came to a shocking end as they were upset by the Montreal Alouettes in the East Final.[5]

The 2023 CFL season was the third season for head coach Ryan Dinwiddie and the fourth season for Michael Clemons as general manager.[6] [7] The team held their training camp at the University of Guelph for the second consecutive season.[8]

Offseason

CFL Global Draft

The 2023 CFL Global Draft took place on May 2, 2023.[9] The Argonauts had the last selection in each of the two rounds after winning the 109th Grey Cup.[10]

RoundPickPlayerPositionClub/SchoolNationality
1 9 Mexico
2 18 Great Britain

CFL National Draft

The 2023 CFL Draft took place on May 2, 2023.[11] The Argonauts had eight selections in the eight-round draft after acquiring an additional sixth round pick from the Edmonton Elks after trading Jalen Collins and Martez Ivey, but trading their first-round pick to the BC Lions for Jordan Williams.[12] [13] The team had the ninth selection in each of the eight rounds of the draft (not including forfeited picks by other teams or traded picks) after winning the 109th Grey Cup.[14]

RoundPickPlayerPositionSchoolHometown
2 16 Peterborough, ON
3 27 Cambridge, ON
4 36 London, ON
5 45 Lévis, QC
6 47 Ottawa, ON
6 54 Etobicoke, ON
7 63 Western Ontario Châteauguay, QC
8 72 Sorel, QC

Preseason

The Argonauts' home preseason game was played at Alumni Stadium in Guelph, Ontario.[8]

Schedule

WeekGameDateKickoffOpponentResultsTVVenueAttendanceSummary
ScoreRecord
ABye
B1Sat, May 274:00 p.m. EDTat Hamilton Tiger-CatsL 22–270–1NoneTim Hortons Field17,500Recap
C2Thu, June 17:30 p.m. EDTvs. Ottawa RedblacksL 23–340–2NoneAlumni Stadium2,230Recap
[15] [16]

Games played with colour uniforms.

Regular season

Schedule

The Argonauts were the home team for a neutral site game in Halifax for the Week 8 match-up with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.[8] [17] This was the second consecutive year that the two teams meet in Nova Scotia and the first repeat matchup in the Touchdown Atlantic series.

WeekGameDateKickoffOpponentResultsTVVenueAttendanceSummary
ScoreRecord
1Bye
21Sun, June 187:00 p.m. EDTvs. Hamilton Tiger-CatsW 32–141–0TSN/CBSSNBMO Field15,967Recap
32Sun, June 257:00 p.m. EDTat Edmonton ElksW 43–312–0TSNCommonwealth Stadium20,817Recap
43Mon, July 37:00 p.m. EDTvs. BC LionsW 45–243–0TSN/RDS/CBSSNBMO Field12,473Recap
5Bye
64Fri, July 147:30 p.m. EDTat Montreal AlouettesW 35–274–0TSN/RDSMolson Stadium16,151Recap
75Fri, July 217:30 p.m. EDTat Hamilton Tiger-CatsW 31–155–0TSNTim Hortons Field24,312Recap
86Sat, July 294:00 p.m. EDTSaskatchewan RoughridersW 31–136–0TSN/RDS2/CBSSNHuskies Stadium11,555Recap
97Fri, Aug 49:00 p.m. EDTat Calgary StampedersL 7–206–1TSNMcMahon Stadium19,234Recap
108Sun, Aug 137:00 p.m. EDTvs. Ottawa RedblacksW 44–317–1TSN/RDSBMO Field12,796Recap
11Bye
129Fri, Aug 257:30 p.m. EDTvs. Calgary StampedersW 39–318–1TSN/RDSBMO Field17,906Recap
1310Mon, Sept 43:30 p.m. EDTat Hamilton Tiger-CatsW 41–289–1TSN/RDS2/CBSSNTim Hortons Field25,381Recap
1411Sat, Sept 91:00 p.m. EDTvs. Montreal AlouettesW 39–1010–1TSN/RDSBMO Field14,415Recap
1512Fri, Sept 157:00 p.m. EDTat Montreal Alouettes W 23–2011–1TSN/RDSMolson Stadium17,626Recap
1613Sat, Sept 237:00 p.m. EDTvs. Hamilton Tiger-CatsW 29–1412–1TSNBMO Field15,549Recap
1714Fri, Sept 298:00 p.m. EDTat Winnipeg Blue BombersL 21–3112–2TSN/RDSIG Field32,343Recap
1815Fri, Oct 67:00 p.m. EDTvs. Edmonton ElksW 35–1213–2TSN/RDS2/CBSSNBMO Field14,246Recap
1916Sat, Oct 147:00 p.m. EDTvs. Ottawa RedblacksW 40–2714–2TSN/RDS2BMO Field13,888Recap
2017Sat, Oct 214:00 p.m. EDTat Saskatchewan RoughridersW 29–2615–2TSNMosaic Stadium24,158Recap
2118Sat, Oct 287:00 p.m. EDTat Ottawa RedblacksW 27–2216–2TSN/RDSTD Place Stadium18,742Recap
[15] [18] [19]

Games played with colour uniforms.

Games played with white uniforms.

Game summaries

Week 8: vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders

Touchdown Atlantic

Week 21: at Ottawa Redblacks

Post-season

Schedule

GameDateKickoffOpponentResultsTVVenueAttendanceSummary
ScoreRecord
East Semi-FinalSat, Nov 4Bye
East FinalSat, Nov 113:00 p.m. ESTMontreal AlouettesL 17–380–1TSN/RDSBMO Field26,620Recap
[15]

Games played with colour uniforms.

Game summaries

East Final: vs. (E2) Montreal Alouettes

Team

Roster

Quarterbacks

Receivers

Running backs

Fullbacks

Offensive linemen
  • RT
  • LT
  • C
    • LG
    • RG

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

      • HB
  • S
  • CB
  • CLB
  • HB
  • CB

Special teams

  • K
  • LS
  • P
1-Game Injured
  • RB
  • OL
  • DL
  • DB
  • DL
  • DB
  • RB
  • DB
  • OL
  • DB
  • OL
  • DB

6-Game Injured

  • DB
  • DB
  • WR
  • DB
  • WR
  • LB
Practice roster
  • WR
  • WR
  • LB
  • DB
  • K
  • WR
  • OL
  • FB
  • OL
  • WR
  • DB
  • DL
Italics indicate American player • Bold indicates Global player • 46 Roster, 18 Injured, 12 Practice roster
Roster updated 2023-11-11 • Depth chartTransactions (argonauts.ca)Transactions (cfl.ca)More CFL rosters

Coaching staff

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Toronto Argonauts clinch playoff spot with victory over Alouettes . 3DownNation . September 9, 2023.
  2. Web site: Argos clinch first place in the East Division for third consecutive season . . September 15, 2023.
  3. Web site: Game notes . . October 7, 2023.
  4. Web site: Argos claim 16th win in downing Redblacks . . October 29, 2023.
  5. Web site: Montreal Alouettes stun record-setting Toronto Argonauts in East Final upset . 3DownNation . 11 November 2023.
  6. Web site: Ryan Dinwiddie named 45th head coach in Argos history. Toronto Argonauts. December 12, 2019. November 21, 2020.
  7. Web site: CFL.ca Staff . Argos relieve GM Jim Popp of duties . CFL.ca . October 8, 2019 . November 21, 2020.
  8. Web site: Grey Cup champion Argonauts look to repeat in team's 150th year as 2023 schedule is released . . December 13, 2022.
  9. News: Expanded CFL Combine presented by New Era heading to Edmonton in '23 . . November 10, 2022.
  10. News: 2023 Global draft tracker . . May 7, 2023.
  11. Web site: Chase Brown headlines Scouting Bureau's fall edition . . September 8, 2022.
  12. News: Argos acquire Jordan Williams in trade with Lions . . February 9, 2023.
  13. News: Elks pick up a pair from Argos in trade . . June 5, 2022.
  14. Web site: Draft Tracker . . November 19, 2022.
  15. Web site: 2023 Schedule . . December 13, 2022.
  16. Web site: 2023 CFL on TSN Broadcast Schedule . . February 12, 2023.
  17. Web site: Touchdown Atlantic returns in 2023 . . December 20, 2022.
  18. Web site: Horaire de diffusion – LCF . . May 24, 2023 . French.
  19. Web site: 2023 U.S. and International broadcast schedule . . June 7, 2023.