Unless something drastically changes in the coming days, Alouettes quarterback Davis Alexander will make his second consecutive start this Saturday against Hamilton.
And that means veteran Cody Fajardo, who has been recovering from a hamstring injury sustained almost one month ago, will miss a third straight match.
Meanwhile, Alexander will have a new backup during the rematch against the Tiger-Cats. The Als on Tuesday announced they’ve repatriated Dominique Davis to replace Caleb Evans. Evans suffered what appeared to be a season-ending knee or Achilles injury in the fourth quarter against Hamilton on a non-contact play.
The injury occurred not long after Evans entered the game in place of Alexander and threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to fullback David Dallaire. It was Dallaire’s first CFL score.
The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Davis, 35, spent the 2022 season with the Als before signing with B.C. as a free agent. An eight-year CFL veteran, he becomes Montreal’s short-yardage specialist.
“First and foremost, we know he can run short-yardage and our goal-line offence,” general manager Danny Maciocia told The Gazette by telephone. “We know he’s pretty good at that. He has shown he can do that here and other places.”
While with the Lions, Davis worked under offensive co-ordinator Jordan Maksymic, a disciple of Montreal head coach Jason Maas. Davis should be familiar with the Als’ offensive verbiage, terminology and concepts, making for a quick and smooth transition.
While Fajardo underwent more tests on Monday, he’s unlikely to return this weekend. He had been on the six-game injured list, only to be removed last week when he twice practised. But Fajardo was then placed on the one-game injured list on Thursday.
Some confusion arose over the move, since a player’s salary doesn’t count against the cap while on the six-game list. While a player can be removed from that list prematurely, once a team exercises that option his salary counts against the cap. Any player on the one-game list can also participate in practice.
“It’s six games, not six weeks,” Maciocia said. “Six games equals nine weeks (due to byes in the schedule). Why would I put a guy on six games when I know it’s not going to be nine weeks? If I leave him on the six-game list, that means he can’t practise. If he can’t practise, how am I ever going to find out when he can actually come back? He’s not going to eclipse the six-game mark.”
Alexander overcame an early fumble and interception that was returned for a touchdown against Hamilton, completing 19 of 27 passes for 262 yards and a touchdown, spreading the ball around to seven different receivers. Tailback Walter Fletcher gained 56 yards on eight carries and also scored, while catching three passes for 28 yards.
The Als improved to a league-best 7-1 with their 33-16 victory.
“He (Alexander) fought through adversity,” Maciocia said. “It wasn’t the ideal start, I’d say. The ball on the interception, we could have done a better job of helping him out also. He needs to protect the ball. He understands that. He’s got to be aware of his surroundings when he gets flushed out of the pocket. He needs a better understanding of what’s going on around him. Sometimes the best throw is the one you don’t make. Secure the ball, take a sack or possibly throw it away. That’s going to come with experience, time and some of these growing pains he’s going through. He’s only going to be better for it.
“Having said all that, he bounced back and made a couple of big-time throws in that game.”
Alexander also displayed his toughness following a helmet-to-helmet hit from nose-tackle Casey Sayles in the fourth quarter. Alexander had to leave the game but returned, smiling, on the next series. Sayles was assessed a 25-yard penalty for spearing/roughing the passer and can anticipate a fine this week.
“I guess the spotter was worried about my head, so I was out for three plays,” Alexander told reporters in Hamilton post-game. “It had nothing to do with my head. I’m completely fine.
“It wasn’t as clean a ball game as we wanted, but we still put up 33 points. I’ve got to protect the ball a little bit better. As long as we take care of the ball, good things will happen.”
Meanwhile, suspended rush-end Shawn Lemon could miss a fifth consecutive game for gambling on CFL games during the 2021 season, while with Calgary. While a recent hearing took place, the independent arbitrator must render his decision while issuing a written report.