Darian Durant will start for Montreal when the Alouettes travel to Saskatchewan for the highly anticipated return of the quarterback who became a franchise icon with the Riders.
“He’s coming back to Saskatchewan. He’s legendary there. When you look at where we are in the standings and what the end of our season looks like, why not give (Durant) an opportunity for the things he’s done … for this league,” Reed, the Als interim head coach, told Montreal Gazette beat reporter Herb Zurkowsky.
“A lot of thought went into it. I think it’s healthy for him to start,” Reed added. “What is good and what is right is to start Darian in Saskatchewan.”
Durant was traded to Montreal in January after playing 11 seasons in Saskatchewan, winning two championships – including the 2013 Grey Cup, held in Regina – and finished with a 58-54 record in 113 starts for the Riders. He was a West Division all-star in 2009 and 2013.
It’s been a rough season for the 35-year-old who has been pulled from many games lately. Montreal’s offence sits last in the league with 302 points and the team owns the CFL’s worst record at 3-13. Durant has an 87.2 QB rating from completing 265 of 397 pass attempts (66.7 per cent) for 3,107 yards, 15 touchdowns and a league-high 15 interceptions, the most he’s thrown since 2010.
If Durant wins, does he jump around like he did in Week 1? Or maybe a Chris Jones celebration happens? Either way it’s must-watch TV.
