Montreal Alouettes’ quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. was unable to finish Monday’s game against the visiting Ottawa Redblacks due to an apparent shoulder injury.
The passer was scrambling late in the fourth quarter when he landed awkwardly with his left arm trapped underneath his body. He was tended to by the training staff and left the field with his left arm wrapped in his uniform, which served a makeshift sling.
The 28-year-old completed 12-of-21 pass attempts for 157 yards, one touchdown, and one interception on Monday before leaving the game due to injury. He also carried the ball six times for 41 yards.
According to multiple reports out of Montreal, Adams left the stadium on a stretcher.
Veteran backup Matthew Shiltz took over at the controls following Adams’ departure and led a 65-yard drive for the game-winning touchdown in the final minute of the game. He completed all three of his pass attempts for 36 yards and rushed twice for 18 yards before handing the ball off to Cameron Artis-Payne for a seven-yard score.
Artis-Payne was sensational in place of an injured William Stanback, rushing 21 times for 122 yards and a score in his first career start. He was First-Team All-SEC at Auburn as a senior before being selected in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers.
The 31-year-old rushed for 491 yards and five touchdowns with the Panthers over four seasons before his release in August 2019. He played well for the Dallas Renegades of the XFL in 2020 and has since extended his professional career by coming to the CFL.
The win improved Montreal’s record to 4-4, giving them a four-point advantage over the last-place Redblacks. The clubs meet again on Saturday, Oct. 16 at TD Place Stadium in what will be the third of four meetings this season.
Shiltz has dressed for 47 games over his four-year CFL career as a member of the Alouettes. He has completed 102-of-169 pass attempts for 1,231 yards, five touchdowns, and nine interceptions. If Adams is unable to dress for next week’s game, it is likely that Shiltz would start for Montreal.
