(Montreal) The Montreal Alouettes will have to do without the services of receiver Kaion Julien-Grant for the rest of the season.
Injured in last week’s game against the Ottawa Rouge et Noir (4-11), Julien-Grant underwent shoulder surgery earlier this week.
“He’s probably out for the season,” noted head coach Jason Maas. It doesn’t look like it will be available to us again. »
His absence on Monday, against the Rouge et Noir, will allow young Canadian Shedler Fervius to play a second consecutive match. Cole Spieker and James Letcher Jr. will also be in the lineup.
Julien-Grant therefore concludes his fourth season with the Alouettes (8-7) after nine games, during which he caught 37 passes for 512 yards.
The Alouettes will still count on reinforcements within the group of receivers, since rookie Austin Mack will be back, he who missed last weekend’s game.
Mack ranks fifth on the Ambrosie circuit with 1,057 yards of aerial gains on 70 catches.
It’s not just Julien-Grant who will miss Monday’s game: running back William Stanback and precision kicker David Côté will also be sidelined.
Stanback did not practice all week due to a virus. He will give way to Walter Fletcher, who has proven to be just as threatening as him when called upon to replace him this season.
Côté is injured in a hip and will miss his first match with the Alouettes. His absence will allow Mexican Jose Maltos to play a first meeting in the blue, white and red uniform.
Maltos has been working in the CFL since 2018 and he was in uniform for a few games in 2019, with Ottawa, without however punting. Hired by the Alouettes last December, he will have the chance to kick conversions and placements on Monday.
“I am very excited and full of gratitude to the Alouettes,” said Maltos. I have been training very hard since 2018 for this first opportunity.
“I never wish bad luck on my teammates, but if the team needs me, I’ve made sure I’m ready since I got here. »
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats (8-8) no longer lose. They posted their fifth straight win on Saturday against clubs that aren’t the Toronto Argos and are now tied with the Alouettes at 16 points thanks to their current 5-2 streak.
This is why the latter will not be able to confirm their second place in the East in the event of a victory against the Rouge et Noir. Even if they hold the tiebreaker against the Ti-Cats, Jason Maas’ troops would surely like not to have to rely on a victory in the last game of the season against Hamilton on October 28 to confirm it.
A victory on Monday would allow the Birds to regain a two-point priority over the Tiger-Cats.
“It’s very difficult to beat a team three times in the same campaign, four is almost unheard of,” Maas noted. If you look at all the games against them, they were close. Except the last one, but we got six turnovers in this duel, which greatly influenced the result.
“We have multiple videos of each other team, that’s what makes it so difficult, especially a second week in a row [against them]. »
“The advantage goes to the attack in such a situation,” said quarterback Cody Fajardo. It’s easier for the offense to change its playbook quickly, especially in two consecutive games, than for the defense. The vagaries of the schedule meant that we faced Ottawa four times. But our goal is not a fourth victory against them, but a ninth victory this season in order to give ourselves pace for the playoffs. »
For offensive line coach Luc Brodeur-Jourdain, this duel will be an opportunity for the Alouettes to improve with a view to the playoffs.
“Obviously, the importance of the matches, I am able to recognize it. We want to win these games and finish strong in order to earn the right to host a playoff game at Percival-Molson Stadium. »
Kickoff for this match against the Rouge et Noir is scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday.
As has been the tradition for several years, Alouettes players and coaches will visit the Bon Accueil Mission to serve Thanksgiving meals to hundreds of people. The players will regroup there after the match against the Rouge et Noir, around 5:30 p.m.
This is one of the many community initiatives of the Montreal team during the season.
Founded in 1892, the Welcome Hall Mission offers several support programs for people experiencing homelessness, young mothers, poor families and young people in difficulty.