It’s a fair question: With all the injuries — and Cody Fajardo potentially joining the group — what will the Montreal Alouettes look like when they return from the break to face the Saskatchewan Roughriders on July 25?
Jason Maas’s squad has been able to navigate the rough patches since the start of the season to build a very enviable 5-1 record a third of the way through the 2024 campaign. But the last two games could have seriously affected this hitherto well-oiled machine.
Let’s start with the worst possible scenario: a prolonged absence of Fajardo.
The man who has established himself as one of the CFL’s best quarterbacks since arriving in Montreal in disgrace before last season left Thursday’s 37-18 loss to the Toronto Argonauts after only six pass attempts.
After dodging a few tackles, he threw his only incomplete pass of the game and never returned. He left directly for the locker room, holding the back of his right thigh, suggesting a hamstring injury.
After the game, we met the friendly quarterback in the Birds’ locker room and he wasn’t laughing. He quickly took leave of the scribes and left to join his family, his leg wrapped in ribbons and his step unsteady.
Jason Maas had little good news to share after the game, as he said he hoped the No. 7 would return “sooner rather than later.”
Caleb Evans showed some nice flashes after a short week (very short, we’ll get back to that), but since his arrival in Montreal, or even in the CFL, he hasn’t proven that he has the stuff to lead a club over a long period. We can only hope for a turning point if he has to take the lead of the attack for several games.
Again tonight, his decision-making was so-so, especially on his first interception, which led to the Argos’ first touchdown.
“There’s always ups and downs, but this was definitely not my best game,” he said after the game. “I have to be comfortable. I’ll have a week or two to get more comfortable with the playbook.”
“The half stumbled a little, I wanted to buy him some time. But the 48 [Wynton McManis] is a good linebacker and he made the play.”
Evans cannot be blamed for his lack of hard work, however, and while several teammates will take advantage of the break to spend time with family, he will remain in Montreal to prepare for his return to the field.
“I’m going to take advantage of it to find some rhythm. I was going to stay in Montreal anyway. So I’m going to be with the guys and work on my game.”
In the last two games alone, the Alouettes have lost safety Marc-Antoine Dequoy, kicker David Côté, linebacker Frédéric Chagnon, and now Fajardo for a while.
That’s without mentioning linebacker Geoffrey Cantin-Arku, center Justin Lawrence and special teams specialist KD Davis, who went down for a few series in this game. It remains to be seen whether these injuries will leave any scars.
As for possible returns after the break, only those of Dequoy and defensive back Wesley Sutton appear to be imminent.
Not a fan of short weeks
To say that Maas is not a supporter of five-day weeks is an understatement. The coach did not want to use the short week as an excuse. But he also warned that he would not give away his true thoughts.
“I’ll never use that as an excuse,” he said. “Every team has to do it at least once. Ultimately, we weren’t good enough in all phases of the game. I have to give credit where credit is due. [aux Argos]. They were better than us and the score of 38-17 clearly indicates that. We will take advantage of this week of rest, learn from this defeat and come back better.
“If I say more about it I will be fined, so I don’t want to be fined,” he added. “I’ve said it before: football is not meant to be played with a five-day break. We have to do it and we have done it.”