Even if Jason Maas still assured that Cody Fajardo would be in his position on Friday evening, the quarterback of the Montreal Alouettes did not convince the scribes who attended the club’s practice on Wednesday by only taking part in half of training.
If he had taken over the reins of the first unit on offense in the first 60 minutes of the session near the Olympic Stadium, Fajardo was instead replaced by Caleb Evans and Davis Alexander for the last portion of this session, only practice sold out for the Alouettes in this shortened week.
“We’re getting ready to play with Cody, but the other two guys have to be ready as well,” said the head coach, who wanted to be reassured.
“There are times in a season when players are unable to complete a practice or attend all rehearsals due to bruising and minor injuries. This is one of those times. We don’t give our substitutes a lot of reps: it was a great opportunity to do that, to thank them by giving them more. »
The No. 7 was tackled solidly 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, who focused on the quarterback’s left shoulder or scapula.
Fajardo hadn’t had to miss a series on offense in the game, which he finished with 19 of 25 attempts for 318 yards, throwing a touchdown pass against two interceptions.
According to Maas, the 31-year-old veteran received a day of treatment on Tuesday. The head coach again assured that it was only a question of allowing the Montreal pivot to return to 100%. And to prepare the succession, in case Fajardo needs a break. Which will not be the case, asserted Maas
“We are evaluating all possibilities. If we thought he would be better off giving him a rest game, we would consider it. But if a player wants to play, like Cody does, and they can do it, that’s what we’re going to do. For each situation, we must have emergency measures. I don’t mean that our substitutes are emergency measures, but they must be ready to play. »
Maas gave the same explanation in the case of William Stanback. The running back, who had still taken part in a few simulated plays the day before, was content with a few stretches along the sidelines, nothing more.
And the coach was very clear: he prefers some players to take advantage of treatment days instead of offering half measures in training.
“Some players are not ready at the start of the week. We don’t like them slowing down in training in this case, we want them all the way. If they can’t do it, let them participate in simulated games in order to have a good mental preparation, but then go back to the locker room. We will hold the training with those who can go 100%. This is what we expect from our players.
“I understand that for a season – for a shortened week and having carried the ball 19 times for 106 yards over the bargain – that a player is not 100%. Walter Fletcher and Jeshrun Antwi are here for a reason and they will be ready. »
Fletcher, who has only played one game this season, is American, like Stanback. Antwi is Canadian. Maas assures that Fletcher is not doomed to play only when Stanback is absent.
“We have enough flexibility with our Canadian players to consider using Stanback and Fletcher in the same game. »
The Alouettes (4-3) will be looking for a third straight win when they host the Saskatchewan Roughriders (4-4) at Percival-Molson Stadium on Friday to solidify their hold on second place in the East.