This past Saturday, the Calgary Stampeders lost to the Edmonton Elks 37-16 at Commonwealth Stadium for their fourth consecutive loss. They are now 4-8 on the season sitting in last place in the West Division. In that game, the Stampeders started Logan Bonner, who completed 21 of 36 passes (58.3%) for 284 yards, and 5 interceptions. It was a rough debut for him.
The Stampeders have been struggling on offense ranking eighth in average offensive points (22.3), touchdowns (26), sixth in average net offense (351.3), average rushing yards (85.9), average passing yards (276.9), and passing touchdowns (15).
The front office is a mess, the coaching staff is a mess, and the team overall has no direction with an uncertain future ahead of them. However, this team does have some players on offense who can contribute. When it comes to the quarterback position, they have a guy waiting for his opportunity to start and his name is Tommy Stevens.
Tommy Stevens is six foot five and weighs 257 pounds. The 27-year-old from Indianapolis, Indiana, completed 1 of 2 passes (50%) for 24 yards, 42 carries for 125 yards, and 8 touchdowns in 12 games this season.
The New Orleans Saints drafted Stevens in the seventh round (240th pick) of the 2020 NFL Draft. He spent part of the 2020 season on New Orleans’s practice squad. Stevens also had stints with the Carolina Panthers and New York Giants.
The Calgary Stampeders signed Stevens as a free agent on January 4, 2022. In 2022, Stevens completed 6 of 9 passes (67%) for 41 yards, 1 touchdown, 56 carries for 297 yards, and 9 touchdowns in 18 games. In 2023, Stevens completed 4 of 9 passes (44%) for 17 yards, 44 carries for 151 yards, and 6 touchdowns in 18 games.
Collegiately, Stevens played four seasons at Penn State (2015-18) completing 23 of 41 passes (59%) for 304 yards, 4 touchdowns, 1 interception, 76 carries for 506 yards, 8 touchdowns, 14 catches for 62 yards, and 2 touchdowns in 23 games for the Nittany Lions.
Then, Stevens transferred to Mississippi State in 2019 as a Team Captain completing 97 of 161 passes (60%) for 1,155 yards, 11 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, 83 carries for 381 yards, and 4 touchdowns in 9 games for the Bulldogs. In 2020, he played in the East-West Shrine Game.
The Stampeders should give Stevens a shot to be the starting quarterback. He has been a bright spot in what is a disappointing season for Calgary. At this point of the season, they have nothing to lose and might as well try because I believe that Stevens can help them win games and make the other players around him better.
