Players on Alouettes roster bubble get final chance to impress coaches

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ST-JÉRÔME — The Alouettes’ veteran players have done everything they could through nearly three weeks of training camp to ensure they’ll remain with the team.

Now, it’s up to the CFL rookies to show the coaches they should take a chance on them.

“We’ve never been shy talking about the competition on this team,” Als head coach Jason Maas said. “Every single position, every single player, has been told that since Day 1. We’ve told the vets: ‘Don’t you dare think that you’ve made it.’ And told the rookies: ‘Don’t think you’re out of it.’

“Every single guy needs to go on that field and feel he can make our team.”

The Als play their final exhibition game Friday against the Ottawa Redblacks at TD Place (7 p.m., TSN4, RDS, TSN Radio-690, 98.5 FM). The teams played on Saturday in Montreal and, despite veterans playing throughout the first half, the Als were dreadful during a 23-7 defeat — at least on offence.

The optics have changed this week, with 37 veteran players not taking the two-hour bus ride to Ottawa.

One rookie battling for an Alouettes job is defensive-back Tiawan Mullen. The 5-foot-9, 182-pounder was Indiana University’s outstanding defensive player in 2020. In 40 games, he intercepted five passes and forced four fumbles. He was a first-team all-American as a sophomore and spent 2023 with the Los Angeles Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles. His brother, Trayvon, plays for Baltimore and he’s a cousin of Ravens starting QB Lamar Jackson.

“I’m handling this game like any other day,” said the 24-year-old Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native. “(Wednesday) I had to buff the car. (Thursday) I’m able to polish it. Once I’m done polishing, the result is going to show on Friday.”

The car? “A Ferrari,” Mullin said.

Although the Redblacks are playing at home, head coach Bob Dyce has elected not to dress 29 veterans, including starting quarterback Dru Brown, tailback William Stanback and receiver Eugene Lewis — the latter two former Alouettes. Matt Shiltz, who also played for Montreal, will start at QB.

Caleb Evans is scheduled to start at quarterback and is expected to play the first quarter, at least, before being replaced by James Morgan. Mirabel quarterback Jonathan Sénécal, a seventh-round draft choice this year from Université de Montréal, should play the fourth quarter in what will probably be the epilogue of his short-lived pro career.

Evans sustained a season-ending knee injury last August at Hamilton, requiring the Als to sign veteran Dominique Davis as their third-string, short-yardage specialist. Evans has participated in training camp workouts at Centre sportif Claude-Beaulieu, but only received medical clearance to play in a game Thursday morning.

Morgan, a New York Jets’ fourth-round draft choice in 2020, was on Montreal’s practice roster last season — and probably will remain there unless he can dislodge Evans. Morgan likely has a stronger arm than Evans but, at 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, is he capable of running the team’s third-down, short-yardage offence?

Stevie Scott, who dressed for one game last season, will start at tailback before giving way to Travis Theis and Tanner Nelmes. The starting receivers will be Jordan Veasy, Jose Barbon, Jalen Wayne, Tyjon Lindsey and Daniel Oladejo.

Scott suffered a knee injury this week and is expected to wear a brace. It didn’t prevent him from practising.

The only familiar faces on defence are halfback Bryce Cosby and safety Arthur Hamlin. Cosby had two interceptions and one sack in 18 games last season. The fact he’s dressing could mean the coaching staff wants another look at him.

“There are spots open for sure,” Maas insisted. “I’d say to everybody: ‘Don’t you dare think you’re out of it.’ We talked about that this week. Prepare like you’re going to be a starter for us. Go and play like a starter, then let us decide what happens. But you have to give it your all. The first thing about a pro player is he has to believe in himself, believe that he belongs.

“We want a physical team every single snap. That’s a choice of theirs. We want to see them have fun and enjoy the experience together, and just be consistent. What we’ve seen through camp, show it on the field. Ability, toughness and effort, those are key. We want to see it as a team. They’ve done a great job of coming together. Now it’s about going out and doing it.”