The Montreal Alouettes’ final 47-17 loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last Thursday left its mark on the team.
Thus, when they kicked off their week of training for their game against the British Columbia Lions (7-4) on Saturday at Percival-Molson Stadium, the Alouettes (6-4) had several absentees, including in defence.
Defensive back Wesley Sutton, possibly due to a concussion, and linebacker Tyrrell Richards, injured in the leg, did not finish the game against the Bombers.
Head coach Jason Maas was hoping the team wouldn’t have to put Sutton’s name on the six-week disabled list. He was waiting for a new medical evaluation before deciding. As for Richards, the news seemed better. Maas said the first-ever pick in the 2022 draft did not suffer from a structural injury and his case would be reassessed week by week.
“In the case of Sutton, it’s sometimes easy to combine with this kind of injury, as it can be very long,” noted Maas. If we feel that’s what he needs, we’ll put him on the six-game disabled list. »
“For Tyrrell, the news is better in his case. He will miss this week’s game, but we will see from week to week after that. »
Linebacker Bryce Notree wasn’t training with the starters, but in his case, it seems more like a disciplinary action. Notree has received several bad penalties, and Maas surely wants to send him a message. Brody Buck, added to the club’s training squad a few weeks ago, replaced him during Tuesday’s session near the Olympic Stadium.
The Alouettes could, however, count on the return to play of defensive back Ciante Evans, whose name has been on the injured list for six games since the fourth week of the season. In three games, Evans had time to leave a good impression, intercepting three passes in addition to making four tackles.
“It’s an avenue [to remove his name from the injured list for six games] that we are currently evaluating,” admitted Maas.
Finally, the team announced the signing of Quebec tackle Vincent Desjardins, cut after the last training camp.
“Frankly, I didn’t expect it after two and a half months,” he beamed to the scribes who came to meet him.
“The first few weeks, you still hope, but otherwise the plans are on the way; you go back to work, added the one who is a civil engineer in the Quebec region. […] To have the opportunity to come back and contribute, I couldn’t let that pass. »
“I felt like I had a good camp, according to the coaches as well. I thought I’d be called back sooner, here or somewhere else. I didn’t have the word retirement in my mouth yet, but I was starting to think about it, “concluded the one who was contacted in the middle of a round of golf on Sunday by Danny Maciocia.
In attack, the situation is a little brighter, as Pier-Olivier Lestage and Austin Mack, who are obviously dragging injuries, were able to train, although Mack did so without crampons.
Moreover, the Alouettes were able to count on a new face within the first unit with the full participation of Greg Ellingson in training, a first since the very beginning of training camp.
“The hardest part is mentally,” Ellingson said of his long absence. You’re still in the meeting rooms and you’re doing what you have to do to get back as soon as possible, but not being able to contribute is difficult.
“We know that in the CFL the real business starts on Labor Day, so I’m happy to be back around that time of the season. »
Acquired on the free agent market last winter, the veteran of nine seasons in the Canadian League could be inserted into the training on Saturday. Maas is eager for Ellingson to give the Alouettes’ young receivers the benefit of his experience on the field.
“Greg has a ton of experience in this league,” Maas recalled. This is what he brings more to our training, he makes the people around him more comfortable on the pitch. We need that right now. »
Ellingson’s arrival in the roster has not only made people happy: the Alouettes also announced on Tuesday that they had released receiver Hergy Mayala.
Mayala has not done enough to keep her place in the group. He’s caught just seven of the passes aimed at him this season for 116 yards. Often, he dropped balloons he should have caught, especially on an important third down against the Blue Bombers on Thursday.
If Maas assures that Mayala’s assessment was not made solely on this game, the coach indicated in veiled words that the veteran’s position had been in jeopardy for a few weeks, while the Alouettes were trying to find solutions to relaunch an aerial attack which was often limited to Mack and Keion Julien-Grant, also injured for six weeks.
“We were looking at all possibilities to go in a new direction,” Maas said. I would never take a single game to assess a player’s outfit. »
