Toronto Argonauts superstar running back Andrew Harris is done for the season due to a torn pec muscle that requires surgery. The Argonauts organization was hopeful that Harris would be able to return in 4-6 weeks. But MRI results showed a tear of the pec muscle in Harris’s left arm.

Andrew Harris is in his first season with the Boatmen after having spent the previous five years with his hometown Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Many will wonder if this will be the end of the road for one of Canada’s all-time greatest homegrown running backs.

The 35-year-old, fourth leading CFL rusher in yards from scrimmage, who surpassed 10,000 yards earlier this season, faces an uphill battle to run it back in 2023 for one last hurrah.

In eight games this year for Toronto, Harris was third in the CFL in rushing with 490 yards on 114 carries. He added another 180 yards receiving on 23 receptions. In week 7, Harris was named the CFL’s top performer of the week after rushing for 143 yards against Saskatchewan. His second 100-yard rushing outing for Toronto, with the first coming against his former team Winnipeg in Week 4.

Losing Andrew Harris is a significant blow for Double Blue. The Argonauts’ signing of Harris was intended as the final piece to get them to the Grey Cup after falling short in last year’s East Final.

Andrew Harris, 35, was at Argonauts practice on Wednesday. The Argos are expected to make Harris available to the media Thursday. He’s scheduled to have surgery next Tuesday.

The Toronto Argonauts (4-4) are next in action on Saturday when they host the Calgary Stampeders (5-3) at BMO Field. The Argos will turn to third-year CFL runner A.J. Ouellette to lead a committee in their backfield with rookie second-round pick Dan Adeboboye and CFL rookie RB Javon Leake. They have massive shoes to try and fill with Harris out.

Austin James Ouellette, 27, a First Team All-MAC player as a senior for Ohio, and teammate of potential 2022 CFL MOP QB Nathan Rourke, has shined in limited duty since joining the Argos in 2019. The 5’9 208lb Ouellette has played in 12 career CFL games, averaging 5.5 yards on 57 rushes for 314 yards. Ouellette rushed for 107 yards on 14 carries against Ottawa a year ago.

Ryan Dinwiddie and Toronto made a concerted effort to cater their offense to Andrew Harris this season. There could be a shift in offensive philosophy moving forward with the future first-ballot CFL Hall of Famer out of action. The Argonauts were heavily committed to running the ball, with Harris second in league with 114 carries.

Toronto has battled through several injuries at key positions throughout their season. But the loss of Andrew Harris on the field, and off could send the team into a tailspin. How the team pulls together without Andrew Harris will determine how far the Argos will go this season.