CALGARY — While one team’s starting quarterback remains sidelined with injury, the other will get theirs back in time for a Saturday night fight.
The Montreal Alouettes are hoping to avoid a third straight loss Saturday night, and they’ll look to knock off the Calgary Stampeders at McMahon Stadium. It’s the first meeting of the season between these two teams.
Als’ quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. makes his return to the lineup following an injury suffered against the Ottawa REDBLACKS on Aug. 2. The Oregon alum has thrown for 1,147 passing yards to go with five touchdowns and three interceptions through six games.
“I expect him to come in and play the same way he has been so far, with a lot of confidence and energy. He had a really good week of practice and he’s doing all the right things,” Alouettes head coach Khari Jones said.
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The Stampeders, meanwhile, will trot out Nick Arbuckle at quarterback once more. The pivot had elbow tightness earlier in the week, keeping him from full participation at practice on Thursday. But he’ll still make his seventh straight start.
Despite practising at one point during the week, the Stamps will keep Bo Levi Mitchell on their six-game injured list. Mitchell’s been out with a tear in his pectoral muscle since Week 3.
“Unfortunately, Bo had to take a step back,” Calgary coach Dave Dickenson told The Canadian Press. “We just weren’t able to get him practising and feeling good, but Nick does feel like he’s ready to go, which is what we’ve been operating with the last six weeks anyways,”
Arbuckle was also limited in practice due to ‘stiffness’, per Dickenson. But Arbuckle says he’s ready to go.
“I feel really good. Just as good as last week,” Arbuckle said.
The Alouettes will have some reinforcements as receiver DeVier Posey returns to the lineup after being absent for a month due to a calf injury. They’ll need him with receiver B.J Cunningham now on the six-game injured list. But they’ll still be without running back William Stanback, who was also injured against the REDBLACKS earlier in the month.
Jones says the team will lean on Posey and the rest of their receiving core for offence.
“We have some young (receivers) and some guys that will have to step up and prove themselves,” Jones told the Montreal Gazette this week. “We’ve only had limited looks at guys like Quan (Bray) and Jake (Wieneke). We know what Eugene (Lewis) brings. Getting Posey back will be a big help.”
The Stamps will also get some much needed help back. Running back Don Jackson is available and will start against the Als. He hasn’t played since Week 3 and has just two games under his belt in 2019.
With Romar Morris suffering what’s believed to be another Achilles injury — which could sideline him for the rest of the season — returner Terry Williams will be the backup running back. Defensive back and University of British Columbia alum Dagogo Maxwell, Canadian receiver Colton Hunchak, and Canadian defensive lineman Vincent Desjardins have also been added to the Stampeders’ roster.
BY THE NUMBERS
128 — The number of sacks Alouettes defensive end John Bowman has through this point in his career. Five of those sacks have come against Bo Levi Mitchell. One lone sack has come against Nick Arbuckle.
2009 — The last time the Alouettes won a game in Calgary, they were in the 2009 Grey Cup against the Saskatchewan Roughriders. In July of that same year, they earned their last victory over the Stamps. Montreal has lost nine straight games at McMahon Stadium since.
4 — Calgary is pushing a four-game home winning streak Saturday. Since Sept. 2012, they’ve only lost at home nine times.
5 — Stampeders cornerback Tre Roberson had five interceptions in his first three games. He’s now gone the last five games without an interception.
– With files from MontrealAlouettes.com/Stampeders.com
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