It\u2019s no longer enough to watch Davis Alexander run a play. Now, people also have to track the Alouettes quarterback\u2019s reaction after each play.<\/p>\n
Against , Alexander suffered an ankle injury but continued playing. Last Saturday against Calgary, he departed for the dressing room early in the fourth quarter \u2014\u00a0only to return \u2014\u00a0after grabbing his left hamstring. That\u2019s the same injury that limited Alexander to seven regular-season games in 2025.<\/p>\n
The anxiety Als fans must be experiencing is palpable, knowing the team\u2019s fortunes rest on Alexander\u2019s health. The East Division appears to be Montreal\u2019s for the taking, but that could all change on one unfortunate QB hit or Alexander run.<\/p>\n
Alexander used to be a dual threat, with his arm and with his legs. But since his hamstring injury, he appears to run only to escape pressure; not to necessarily gain yards.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s very smart about how he plays and what he decides to do,\u201d head coach Jason Maas said. \u201cWe addressed (the hamstring) over the winter. There\u2019s a reason he has played five straight games. He had a serious injury. These things, after you\u2019ve had one, they can reoccur and it takes a lot of time to get over them.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe does play a very dynamic position for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
With a 4-1 record, the Als have assumed control of the East Division. They\u2019ll attempt to win a third straight game Saturday afternoon, a rematch against the Calgary Stampeders at McMahon Stadium (4 p.m., TSN5, RDS, TSN Radio-690, 99.5 FM).<\/p>\n
Here are other thoughts and questions to ponder:<\/p>\n
Reinforcements welcome: Receiver returns prematurely from the six-game injured list to provide Alexander with another aerial threat.<\/p>\n
Spieker suffered what appeared to be an innocuous ankle injury in the opening game at Hamilton. With the Als already missing receivers Jerreth Sterns and Alexander Hollins, Spieker\u2019s availability is welcome.<\/p>\n
Now in his fifth season, the 6-foot-2, 215-pound Spieker caught 54 passes for 609 yards along with four touchdowns in 2025. He had a career-high 823 yards and seven TDs in 2024.<\/p>\n
His 15 minutes of fame?: David Perales\u2019s CFL debut last Saturday proved propitious. The defensive end had a sack and a with the Stamps at the Montreal 15 and threatening to tie the score.<\/p>\n
It was nice while it lasted. Perales has been placed on the six-game injured list (adductor). The Als\u2019 defence has struggled at times this season. It needs more playmakers.<\/p>\n
We remain in Awe: Middle-linebacker this season checked off two boxes. He replaced Darnell Sankey, now with B.C., and he brought a ferocity to the defence.<\/p>\n
Awe was penalized for a late hit on Calgary QB Vernon Adams Jr. and this week, following a hearing, was penalized the maximum amount allowed by the CFL \u2014\u00a0half his game cheque \u2014\u00a0but avoided a suspension. The league doesn\u2019t have salary disclosure, so we don\u2019t know the amount of Awe\u2019s financial burden.<\/p>\n
According to a published report, Awe has been fined or suspended 10 times since the start of his CFL career in 2017. While playing for B.C. last season, he was assessed the maximum fine for high hits to Als QB James Morgan and fullback David Dallaire \u2014 in the same game.<\/p>\n
Awe has said he simply wants to play the game as intended \u2014\u00a0fast and physical. He has too much respect for the game to do anything illegal following the whistle. He was guilty of a football play against Adams; his momentum carrying him into the quarterback.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s play two: Given the CFL\u2019s quirks, not to mention the odd amount of teams, it\u2019s not uncommon for clubs to meet in consecutively weeks.<\/p>\n
Not only are the Als and Calgary playing back-to-back games, Montreal will meet B.C. on Sept. 4 and 12 before facing Saskatchewan twice within five days in October. On each occasion, the Als host the opening game. Montreal practised only twice this week, knowing it was meeting the same opponent.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like the fact we play them all at home first,\u201d Maas said. \u201cTo me that\u2019s ideal. You don\u2019t have to practise as much. The guys have every opportunity to recover. The mental grind isn\u2019t the same. I\u2019m all for getting the western opponents out of the way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Will history repeat?: Animosities can fester when teams play each other twice in a row. Last week\u2019s game was chippy. The visitors took 11 penalties for 113 yards, while the Als were assessed 12 infractions for 95 yards. The game took slightly more than three hours to be played.<\/p>\n
hzurkowsky@postmedia.com<\/p>\n
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