The Montreal Alouettes, who have used four quarterbacks this season after years of relying solely on the right wing of legendary Anthony Cavillo, face off Saturday (3:30 EST) against an Edmonton Eskimos team with similar issues.
Eskimos' rookie Jonathan Crompton should be the quarterback according to the team's depth chart but Mike Reilly has started every game so far this season and has also been green-lighted for a return after suffering a concussion last Saturday.
Coach Kavis Reed hasn’t made an official decision on who will sling the pigskin for the Eskies yet however.
“We spent a lot of time talking with experts,” said Reed. “We collected a lot of information to make an informed decision on his safety.”
Crompton said he’s ready if called upon. "We’re all prepared. We’re focused on a victory,” said Crompton, who would become the 18th different starter in the CFL this season.
Henry Burris of the Hamilton Tiger Cats is the only CFL quarterback to have started every game this season.
The Eskimos have had few bright spots this year but Fred Stamps has registered another solid season, his fifth-straight with over 1,000 yards received. On defence, Marcus Howard leads the team with nine sacks.
Josh Neiswander will start as quarterback for the Alouettes Saturday. The young Texan rookie gave full credit to the efforts of the team's defence in his recent success.
“Our defence has been playing great all year. Talent-wise we have amazing players out there doing a tremendous job. Our defence has kept us in the games we’ve been in. As an offence we want to take it upon ourselves to score more points and take pressure off those guys,” Neiswander told the team website this week.
The game is important for both teams, who have disappointed this season. The Eskimos (3-10) have little hope of finishing third in the West but could come to within two points of the Alouettes (5-8) and an eventual possible playoff spot with a win. The Eskimos overtook the Winnipeg Blue Bombers with a late surge last season and made it to the CFL semi-finals.
The Alouettes had hoped to creep closer to the second-place Hamilton Tiger Cats. However the TiCats thrashed the Toronto Argonauts 33-19 Friday night, to leave the Als four points back of the second spot.
On Thursday, the Alouettes quietely made a few roster moves that don't look to have an immediate impact. The team signed QB Alex Brink and receiver Mardy Gilyard to the team’s practice roster, taking advantage of a rule that allows each team team to add five players to their practice rosters for the final months of the season.
Brink played in 26 games with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, starting seven, over the last three seasons. Gilyard is a kickoff return specialist who played in 11 games with the St. Louis Rams, catching six passes. He has also played for three other NFL teams and has a career kickoff return average of 22.3 yards. The Alouettes also parted ways with import quarterback Nathan Enderle.
-With files from The Canadian Press
