After playing his first game this season last Saturday, Montreal Alouettes pass receiver Greg Ellingson is once again dealing with a knee injury.
We are only talking about inflammation in his case, but he still had to miss a second consecutive training session on Thursday, while his team struggled on the synthetic surface near the Olympic Stadium.
Even if we wanted to be reassuring on the side of head coach Jason Maas and receivers coach Mike Lionello, neither man wanted to confirm the presence of Ellingson for Saturday’s clash against the Toronto Argonauts (9-1).
“We are re-evaluating him this week,” Maas laconically dropped, still reluctant to discuss injuries with the scribes.
Against the BC Lions, Ellingson caught only one of three passes aimed at him, for a meager gain of 10 yards.
Regardless, Maas said after the game that all that mattered was that Ellingson felt good the next morning. He added that his reintegration into the attack of the Alouettes (6-5) would take place gradually.
Asked about it after Tuesday’s practice, which he took part in, Ellingson said that everything was fine and that he was not worried about his use.
His absence over the past two days, however, calls into question his participation in Saturday’s game, 1 p.m., at BMO Field.
However, the news is very encouraging in the case of Kaion Julien-Grant and Reggie White Jr. The two receivers have been training in a limited way with the rest of the group since Wednesday and the Montreal attack could soon count on their return to the game.
“I don’t think it’s for this week,” Maas said, “but definitely in the next few weeks. […] Keion is undoubtedly ready, so his return is imminent. »
“I can’t wait to see them again,” admitted Lionello very enthusiastically. In the case of Julien-Grant, it is imminent as well. »
Julien-Grant, who suffered a broken right hand a few weeks ago, seems much closer to a return to play. He was used in several rehearsals on Thursday and according to Lionello, the Alouettes’ No. 11 could return to the game next week.
The 27-year-old Ontarian caught 30 passes for 469 yards last season after having his best of four seasons in Montreal the year before, when he caught 36 passes for 517 yards and three touchdowns.
There is still talk of an absence of a few weeks in the case of White, who underwent major knee surgery 11 months ago. Lionello, however, believes that we will see him again before the end of the season.
“It’s a short 11 months for the kind of surgery he had,” Lionello said. His knee injury was really serious. He’s doing a phenomenal job getting back into shape. »
“He’s on schedule for his rehabilitation,” Maas said of White’s case.
For Lionello, there is no deadline for White’s rehabilitation, who could regain his place just before the playoffs.
“It’s all about how the receivers in uniform perform and the guys playing right now are doing a great job. That said, Reggie can play all roles and if he is only used as a substitute, we cannot do without having a player like him on the bench. Not every team has a player of his caliber on their bench, regardless of when he returns to the game.”
White had been one of Trevor Harris’ favorite targets last year before suffering his injury. He caught 53 passes for 722 yards and two touchdowns.
Offensive lineman Landon Rice once again missed his team’s training and it is unlikely that he will be in the match against the Argos. It was Jamar McGloster who took the rehearsals in his place during training on Thursday.
On defense, linebacker Avery Williams practiced for a third straight day. We will know on Friday if he will be inserted into Noel Thorpe’s training. Wesley Sutton, who suffered a concussion two weeks ago, has been training on a limited basis. He had all the same put on his full equipment for Thursday’s session.