Music: {allcanada} Holding pattern

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. -- Cleo Lemon was dressed for the weather Tuesday.

The Toronto Argonauts quarterback wore sunglasses and had the hood of his sweatshirt pulled over his head, appropriate attire for a cool, fall day that included heavy rain and intermittent sunshine.

Trouble was, Lemon was indoors as the unpredictable conditions forced the Argos to practise at the Hershey Centre.

A seemingly subdued Lemon was relegated to spectator status as backup Dalton Bell took the first-team reps as Lemon recovers from the concussion he suffered in Sunday's 24-6 loss to Edmonton in Moncton.

Lemon didn't speak to reporters afterwards but Argos head coach Jim Barker said Lemon's status is day to day. However Barker added if Lemon can't resume practising by Thursday, Bell will get the start Saturday against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

"I can't tell you what his situation is," Barker said. "It's a daily thing and until we're sure there are no issues he won't be participating.

"We'll find out as the week goes on."

But Barker made it crystal clear that if Lemon can play Saturday, he will.

"If Cleo is 100 per cent and can practise and go, Cleo is our starting quarterback," he said.

Tailback Cory Boyd wasn't at practice. He's returning from Georgia after attending the funeral of good friend Kenny McKinley. The Denver Broncos receiver committed suicide last week.

Boyd has missed Toronto's last two games with a concussion. Barker said he'll know better once Boyd returns whether he'll be able to play against Saskatchewan.

"It's hard to tell," Barker said. "He comes back (Monday) and we'll get him tested and they (team doctors) will tell me.

"I just don't know. I've stopped speculating. When a guy has a head injury I just move forward."

Lemon was 23-of-35 passing for 274 yards and four interceptions before leaving Sunday's game after being hit by Edmonton linebacker Maurice Lloyd in the fourth quarter. Bell took over and was 2-of-4 passing for 43 yards and an interception as the Eskimos picked off six passes and forced seven turnovers overall.

"He had a bad game, he threw interceptions," Barker said of Lemon. "I mean, we turned the ball over seven times and you're never going to win when you have seven turnovers.

"But we're not the first team in history to have that many turnovers in a game and that's exactly what it was. We had too many turnovers to win the game."

If Lemon can't play, the Argos will active Canadian rookie Danny Brannagan from the practice roster. The native of Burlington, Ont., who guided Queen's to a Vanier Cup title last season, would become the CFL team's No. 3 quarterback behind Bell and Ken Dorsey.

Barker has shown tremendous patience with Lemon, continually sticking with the NFL veteran as his starter while he gets used to three-down football on a wider, longer field. Lemon has shown flashes of brilliance and sports a solid 62.8 completion percentage with 2,666 yards. But he has also thrown more interceptions (14) than touchdown passes (10) and offensively Toronto is ranked last overall in passing (233.2 yards per game), total yards (323.1 yards per game) and second-last in scoring (20.2 points per game).

Bell actually had better numbers during the pre-season, completing 18-of-26 passes for 341 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions while Lemon was 10-of-26 passing for 98 yards and an interceptions over Toronto's two exhibition contests. But Barker cited Lemon's leadership skills and mobility in naming him the Argos starter.

Bell has spent most of the season on the sidelines, having attempted just 10 passes, completing five for 79 yards and an interception.

But if the six-foot-three, 210-pound Bell is pressed into action, he won't necessarily be going in cold against Saskatchewan. Bell, 27, spent the two previous seasons with the Riders before being traded to Toronto in the off-season.

"If there's anyone who knows Saskatchewan, it's Dalton Bell," Barker said. "He ran their scout offence for two years so that's a huge advantage for him.

"Dalton is a guy we brought here because we thought he could be a starting quarterback. If this is the week he gets his opportunity, we're going to see where he's at."

Bell said Lemon's uncertain status hasn't changed his approach, which is always to prepare as if he was the starter. However, getting a chance to face his former team would be special.

"I know a lot of the guys on the team and it would be fun to play against those guys," he said. "I'd say it (having prior experience with Riders) is a little bit of an advantage because you know the personnel a little bit ... but practice is one thing and the games are different thing.

"I'm taking it day by day and hopefully Cleo gets well. I've had a concussion and know how it feels."

Bell also knows how it feels to live a vagabond lifestyle in pro football. Since 2007, he has spent time with Carolina, Green Bay and Seattle of the NFL before heading north to Saskatchewan in 2008 and being dealt to Toronto.

If Bell gets the start Saturday, it will be his first since 2006 when he was West Texas A&M University.

"Anyone who's a player who hasn't got to play a whole lot is always itching to get to play," he said. "I've been up here for 2 1/2 years and waiting patiently.

"Maybe this week will be my time. If not, I know it will come soon."