Montreal Alouettes quarterback Cody Fajardo didn’t practice with his teammates on the field near Olympic Stadium on Tuesday, which didn’t worry head coach Jason Maas too much.
“It’s just one day of treatment, like many of our veterans,” he told reporters when asked about his quarterback’s condition. I’m not going to say more than I have to, but if I bet, I’d bet he’ll be in his job on Friday. I also expect him to be training (Wednesday). »
Fajardo was solidly tackled in the Alouettes’ 27-14 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday. Back on the bench, he received treatment from a team athletic therapist.
Hard to tell if the left shoulder or scapula was affected: the therapist focused on both areas. One thing is certain, the quarterback had not missed any offensive sequences and he finished the game with 19 completions in 25 attempts for aerial gains of 318 yards, throwing a touchdown pass against two interceptions.
Running back William Stanback took part in the first simulated games of training, before continuing his session along the sidelines, with the help of a physical trainer from the club.
“It’s the same for him,” Maas said. It was more of a mental day for us (Tuesday). Yes, we wanted to be physically active as much as possible, but in such a short week, in which we only have one real training session, if some guys are not feeling 100%, we let us leave the leisure not to take part in this first meeting if it is what they wish. »
Offensive lineman Jamal McGloster also benefited from this day of treatment.
He was also replaced by Landon Rice in the first unit on Tuesday. Yet Rice’s name was on the injured list for six games last week.
“Yes, he felt better, so he took part in training, just let Maas down. It’s the doctors who manage that: if they tell us that a player can train, then he trains. »
Maas has yet to decide who will start between McGloster, an American, and Rice, a Canadian.
“We have flexibility at other positions to make sure we have the right ratio of Canadians among our starters,” explained the coach.
The Alouettes (4-3) will host the Saskatchewan Roughriders (4-4), former club of Fajardo and Maas, on Friday.
Maas was fired from his position as the Riders’ offensive coordinator at the end of last season, while Fajardo’s contract was not renewed by the Prairie club. Despite everything, the coach assures that he did not circle this game when he received the Alouettes’ schedule last winter.
“When you’re playing against a former employer or former teammates, I’d be lying to you if I told you there isn’t some emotion to that game. But I’m excited for each of our encounters; it’s not stronger because it’s the Roughriders.
“What happened happened. I turned the page. They have turned the page. We are in the middle of our season; I love the players I manage and the coaches I work with. I’m excited to face our next opponent and luckily it will be the Riders this week. »
The Alouettes will try to extend their winning streak to three on Friday. The Riders, meanwhile, will be looking for a second victory with quarterback Mason Fine in charge of their offense replacing Trevor Harris, who suffered a severe knee injury in mid-July.