Three weeks after his acquisition by the Alouettes, Trevor Harris will get his first start with the team on Saturday night in Winnipeg. This was confirmed by head coach Khari Jones after his team’s training on Tuesday.
With a knee injury, Matt Shiltz did not train with his teammates and will likely not be in uniform to take on the Blue Bombers. So rookie Shea Patterson should be Harris’ reservist.
Harris’ first assignment will be quite one. The 35-year-old quarterback will try to beat the Bombers and the best defensive front in the Canadian League behind an offensive line that remains considerably damaged.
Winnipeg can count on two excellent players in Willie Jefferson and Jackson Jeffcoat. The former was named CFL MVP in 2019 and has seven sacks and three forced fumbles this season. With nine sacks, Jeffcoat occupies the first place in the league, in addition to having caused four fumbles. Not relaxing, this pair of quarterback hunters.
The last time he faced the Blue Bombers on October 8, Harris didn’t look good at all. He had only managed 9 of his 22 passes for 87 yards. The Bombers had crushed Harris and the Edmonton Elks, 30-3.
However, Harris played well when he came in relief at Shiltz last Saturday. In a quarter game, the fourth, he hit 80% of his shots (12 for 15) for 123 yards and threw a touchdown pass in the Als’ 19-14 loss. There was no more dilemma for Jones following Shiltz’s injury, but he admitted his decision was all but made after the last meeting.
Jones doesn’t feel this further shift in quarterback will hurt his club’s chemistry.
“The transition has not been difficult so far because Trevor is behaving like a real professional. The most important thing for us is that we want to make sure that he is comfortable with our game system. We want to find the right mix between a few game systems to make it work ”, a Jones explained.
“I think our players accepted him into the squad quickly and that they are happy to be able to count on a veteran of his caliber. ”
A good relationship with Shiltz
As soon as general manager Danny Maciocia and the Alouettes secured him from Edmonton in return for Antonio Simmons, Harris looked destined to become the team’s starting quarterback. If that’s what he believed, Harris refrained from saying it.
“Some people on the outside might think it was inevitable, but the players in this locker room believe in Matt Shiltz and they believe in Vernon Adams. My job is only to be a piece of the puzzle when I play.
“Matt is injured and needs time to heal. I will replace him during his absence, but he is a very good quarterback and I think he has a very bright future in this league. He has already shown what he is capable of, but I think he will continue to improve significantly.
“I sincerely believe he can become a franchise quarterback and I want to help him as much as I can. Because he is not only a good football player, he is also a very good person.
“I’m excited about his future, as well as how we can grow together. I think we see the game in a similar way and we can help each other. It was really nice working together last week and I’m happy to know that he will be by my side this week. ”
Reggie White son stands out
Manhandled by the Roughriders last weekend, the offensive line will have a lot to do against the defense of the Blue Bombers.
Kristian Matte trained as a center on Tuesday and could be transferred to this position temporarily. Club first center Sean Jamieson is expected to return to the game in the coming weeks.
Absent against the Riders, Philippe Gagnon took part in Tuesday’s practice and could play in Winnipeg. As for left tackle Tony Washington, he continues to be bothered by a leg injury, but remains in the starting lineup.
The situation is more encouraging on the receivers side thanks to the play of rookie Reggie White Jr., who replaces BJ Cunningham, who has an injured finger. In his second career game, White Jr. led the Alouettes with 5 catches and 74 yards against Saskatchewan.
PHOTO CATHERINE LEFEBVRE, ARCHIVES THE PRESS
Reggie White son (84)
“I think he will be a special player. He has a good build [6 pi 3 po, 210 livres], speed and agility for a player of his size. We’ve been enjoying what we’ve seen of him for a while now, but we wanted to make sure he was ready when he got the chance to play, ”explained Khari Jones.
“I have been on the practice team since the start of the season, so I want to use my playing time to demonstrate my skills. You don’t get a lot of chances in a lifetime, so you have to know how to seize them when they pass, ”commented White Jr..
The receiver signed a contract with the Alouettes last January after spending the entire 2019 season with the New York Giants development team. He was cut off by the Giants in 2020.
For those of you wondering, White’s son’s dad did have a career in the NFL … but it wasn’t Reggie White who terrorized the quarterbacks in the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Packers uniforms. Bay. He’s another Reggie White, who was oddly a defensive lineman, too.
“I have been asked this question since I arrived in elementary school. I always tell people that my dad did play in the NFL, but he’s not the Reggie White they’re referring to. My dad played five seasons for the Chargers, Patriots and Jets. He’s not the ‘real’ Reggie White, but he’s the ‘real’ Reggie White to me. ”