The news fell Friday morning: the Montreal Alouettes will be without the services of receivers Greg Ellingson and Tyson Philpot for the first six games of the season.
The Montreal football club put their names on the injured list for six games on the eve of their first game of the campaign, against the Ottawa Redblacks, Saturday, at Percival-Molson Stadium.
In addition to the two receivers, defensive lineman Brock Gowanlock was added to the list, which now includes seven players. Offensive linemen Sean Jamieson and David Brown, defensive back Raheem Wilson, and receiver Reggie White Jr. are also there.
This is very bad news for the group of Alouettes receivers, who thus lose those who were possibly labeled numbers 1 and 2 of the formation at this position.
Ellingson, acquired this winter on the free agent market, came to Montreal after nine successful years in the Canadian Football League. Philpot, a 2022 first-round pick and ninth overall, proved to be one of the key elements of Montreal’s offense last season when he was voted the East’s top rookie.
In addition to these seven injuries, the Alouettes have decided to leave out receiver Jake Harty, running back Walter Fletcher, defensive end Avery Ellis, defensive back Kerfalla Exumé, linebacker Bryce Notree, as well as offensive lineman Patrick Davis for the game against Ottawa.
Ellis’s removal from the roster means defensive line rookies Israel Antwine and Lwel Uguak will both be playing their first CFL games.
The kick-off for the Alouettes’ first game of the season will take place at 7 p.m. on Saturday.