Quarterback Cody Fajardo missed the Montreal Alouettes’ first practice following their bye week but head coach Jason Maas is not ready to rule him out for Thursday’s game against Saskatchewan.
“I’m hopeful that anybody that’s here is going to play and everyone that’s not here is going to play by the end of the week,” Maas told reporters following practice on Sunday.
Fajardo exited Montreal’s Week 6 loss to the Toronto Argonauts late in the first quarter with what appeared to be an injury to his right hamstring. He left for the locker room under his own power but did not return to the game.
After a bye week to recover, the 32-year-old signal-caller was still nowhere to be seen at Stade Hebert in St-Leonard, as backup Caleb Evans took all of the first team reps in practice.
Fajardo’s continued absence would be a devastating blow for the offence as he has thrown for 1,636 yards, 10 touchdowns, and four interceptions through Montreal’s first six games, helping lead the team to five straight victories prior to his exit. He also ran the ball 24 times for 142 yards and one score.
The veteran quarterback’s injury helped fuel controversy as it came on a short week with just five days between games. Fellow QB and former Argonauts teammate McLeod Bethel-Thompson has snagged headlines by calling out the CFL for disregarding player safety with their scheduling twice this year, blaming the quick turnarounds for serious injuries. Maas was also critical of the demands of short weeks prior to the loss of his starter but stopped short of pinning the injury on the timing of the game.
“I think that every game you have the potential to get hurt or injured no matter what, so I’m not here to speculate on that,” the coach said. “He got injured on a play that you don’t generally see and get hurt on. Throughout the season, you have an opportunity to get hurt on every play you’re in there.”
In his first season in Montreal, Fajardo threw for 3,847 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions and was named Grey Cup MVP after helping the Alouettes secure their eighth-ever title. Since entering the league in 2016, the native of Brea, Calif. has racked up 16,529 passing yards, 77 touchdowns, and 49 interceptions with Toronto, B.C., Saskatchewan, and Montreal, all while rushing for 2,356 yards and 39 majors.
Caleb Evans was 12-of-22 passing for 127 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions in relief of Fajardo and would be in line to start if he is unable to go this week. Third-stringer Davis Alexander is also an option under centre, while rookie James Morgan has been activated from the practice roster to fulfill the CFL’s QB quota.
Despite that move and Fajardo’s conspicuous absence, Maas insisted that no decisions would be made about who his starter would be until later in the week.
“We have until game day to make that decision or the day before, so that’s what we’re doing,” he said. “We’re gonna wait and see and hope that (Fajardo) gets better with treatment throughout the week.”
The Montreal Alouettes (5-1) will host the Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-1) on Thursday, July 25 at 7:30 p.m. EDT.
