There was a nice surprise Tuesday at the Montreal Alouettes’ practice: running back William Stanback was back in practice.
The 28-year-old American is not ready to return to play: he trained on the sidelines, without equipment, with quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., also injured for six games.
To see Stanback without a protective boot and able to catch balls and perform simulated runs in a straight line is an encouraging sign, however, in his case.
Stanback, a 2021 CFL MVP finalist and the Ambrosie League’s top running back in recent seasons, suffered a serious left ankle injury in the Alouettes’ inaugural game (4-6) last June. .
Operated a few days later, his name had been placed on the injured list for six games, but the team was planning a much longer absence, until October.
This schedule has not been revised downwards by the organization, even if head coach Danny Maciocia was a little more optimistic.
“I’ll tell you the end of September, if all goes well,” he said. But it is certain that we are happy to see him on the sidelines, with his teammates. I think it does him good, as it does us good to see him again. There is still work to do, everyone is aware of all this, and the next few weeks will be very important. »
His presence did not go unnoticed by his teammates.
“It’s fantastic, it gives us a good dose of energy,” said quarterback Trevor Harris. Besides being an excellent football player, he is a very good guy. We hope to see him again very soon. He’s the kind of player who, by the end of his career, is going to lead the league in rushing yards. I’m convinced. It’s that type of half. We can’t wait to see him back in uniform. »
As for Adams, he seems fully recovered from the tendinitis in his elbow that forced the Alouettes to put his name on the long-term injured list. He will miss Friday against the Ottawa Redblacks (2-8) the fourth game of six.
Same goes for linebacker Tyrrell Richards. The very first choice of the last draft, injured in a knee, is ready to return to the game, but since his name has been placed on the injured list for six games – it will be a fifth game missed on Friday – He cannot immediately be reinstated in training.
” They are ready. They are really ready, ”assured the coach about these two players.
Defensive back Najee Murray could be back in the lineup against the Rouge et Noir.
“He needs to train again, but it’s not excluded,” Maciocia said. We’ll see where it’s at. That’s why I often talk about how important it is to have depth: we want him to be in the squad, but if he can’t, we’ll have someone ready to take his place. »
Suspended Feaster
The team also announced that it had suspended running back Tavien Feaster.
Feaster didn’t return to Montreal at the end of the bye week and the Alouettes simply don’t know where he is. This incident follows a few other team rule violations and Maciocia has simply decided to suspend him.
The team also announced the release of Quebec offensive lineman Samuel Thomassin. Maciocia said the Alouettes simply didn’t have a place in the practice roster for him.