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The Montreal Alouettes have signed Canadian offensive lineman Justin Lawrence to a two-year contract extension that will keep him with the team through the 2028 season.
Lawrence was already under contract for 2026 after he started 14 games at centre in 2025. The 31-year-old was named All-CFL East Division for the second time in his career.
“Justin has played a vital role on our offensive line since joining us three years ago,” Alouettes general manager Danny Maciocia said in a statement. “He does an outstanding job and leads by example for his teammates. We are happy to continue our partnership.”
The native of Edmonton, Alta., was originally selected in the fifth round of the 2018 CFL Draft by the Calgary Stampeders after an outstanding collegiate career at the University of Alberta. He has appeared in 106 CFL games with the Stamps, Toronto Argonauts, and Alouettes, winning a Grey Cup with each franchise.
In addition to Lawrence, the Alouettes also brought back Canadian defensive end Gabriel Maisonneuve and signed American running back Aaron Shampklin.
Maisonneuve was originally selected 44th overall in the fifth round of the 2025 CFL Draft, but returned to school to complete his U Sports eligibility. The six-foot-three, 236-pound pass rusher was a key part of the Montreal Carabins’ Vanier Cup championship season, registering 16 total tackles and 4.5 sacks in the regular season to earn first-team All-Canadian honours.
Shampklin spent five seasons at Harvard University, registering 402 carries for 2,251 yards and 23 rushing touchdowns in 29 games for the Crimson. He also added 29 catches for 296 yards and three touchdowns, becoming a two-time first-team All-Ivy League selection.
The five-foot-10, 195-pound back spent parts of four seasons in the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Dallas Cowboys, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Chargers, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Miami Dolphins, rushing six times for 17 yards and returning four kickoffs for 101 yards in three games. He also played three games for the USFL’s Houston Gamblers in 2023, making 12 carries for 52 yards with a single reception for 26 yards.
The Montreal Alouettes finished second in the East Division standings in 2025 with a 10-8 record and beat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the East Final before losing the 112th Grey Cup to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Davis Alexander went 7-0 as a starter during the regular-season, though he missed 11 games due to a hamstring injury.
The Alouettes ranked eighth in net offence, first in net defence, and third with a turnover differential of plus-eight. The club’s leading rusher was Stevie Scott III with 418 yards, the leading receiver was Tyler Snead with 1,129 yards, and the leading tackler was Darnell Sankey with 103 tackles. Montreal finished sixth in attendance with average crowds of 21,132, which was a 0.8 percent decrease from the previous year.