The Montreal Alouettes will be down a number of key bodies when they face the Ottawa Redblacks on Thanksgiving Monday, but will get their top offensive weapon back in the process.
Receiver Austin Mack is returning to his starting spot after he sat out last week with a thigh injury. The first-year CFLer entered this week third in the league with 70 receptions for 1,057 yards and four touchdowns.
It isn’t all good news in Montreal’s receiving corps, however. Canadian Kaion Julien-Grant (shoulder) has been placed on the one-game injured list. In nine games this year, the St. FX product has made 37 catches for 512 yards. Veteran Jake Harty will continue to start as a result.
The backfield will fare no better, as William Stanback (illness) will miss this game. The 29-year-old bell-cow has carried 140 times for 752 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games this season while also catching 25 passes for 228 yards and another score. His replacement, Walter Fletcher, has 268 all-purpose yards in five games.
Defensively, the Alouettes are faced with a serious drain at linebacker, where key rotational piece Avery Williams (thigh) and backup Bryce Notree (shoulder) will both be on the one-game injured list. They’ll be joined by safety and core special teamer Zach Lindley (head), while defensive end T.D. Moultry heads back to the practice roster.
While no changes to the starting lineup were required, linebacker Chris Moore and defensive back Tysen Otis-Copeland will draw into the lineup to reinforce the depleted group. Veteran American defensive end Avery Ellis has also been activated, alongside Canadian defensive tackle Vincent Desjardins.
The biggest change may be on special teams, where kicker David Cote (hip) has been placed on the one-game injured list and placekicking tasks will now fall to veteran Global Jose Maltos. The 32-year-old Mexican has been around the CFL since 2018, first as a training camp cut of the B.C. Lions and then spending three seasons on the Redblacks practice squad, but has yet to kick in a regular-season game.
The Alouettes (8-7) will host the Redblacks (4-11) on Monday, October 9 at 1:00 p.m. EDT. Montreal has won the previous three meetings between the two teams this season, including a commanding 32-15 victory last week.
