Third on the depth chart, QB Caleb Evans hopes to be first in the Alouettes' hearts

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The Alouettes could have moved on from Caleb Evans in 2024, after he suffered a season-ending knee injury in early August and they signed Dominique Davis.

Instead, general manager Danny Maciocia and head coach Jason Maas saw something in the 27-year-old Texas native that has made them believers. And now it’s Evans’s turn to reward that faith.

Evans, who started the season third on the team’s depth chart, will start at quarterback for the Als Saturday night, when they attempt to end a two-game losing skid against the B.C. Lions (7 p.m., TSN1, RDS, TSN Radio 690, 98.5 FM).

Evans replaces veteran McLeod Bethel-Thompson, now on the six-game injured list (elbow) after going 1-4 as Montreal’s starter. Bethel-Thompson was unable to stop the bleeding after starter Davis Alexander twice injured his hamstring and now also is sidelined for at least six games. The Als this week added quarterback Cameron Dukes, who spent two seasons with Toronto, playing portions of 10 games in 2024 for the suspended Chad Kelly.

The Lions have defeated Montreal in five consecutive games. The Als’ last victory at BC Place came in 2015. Former head coach Tom Higgins was rewarded the following day by getting fired.

“There’s always going to be naysayers and doubters,” Evans said following Thursday’s practice at Stade Hébert — the only time this week the team was able to work outdoors. “This process in the off-season taught me a lot about myself, how hard I wanted to work mentally and physically.

“In this game, in the CFL especially, it’s 18 games. You never know. Injuries happen. You’ve always got to be ready for your opportunity. You’re not playing for a little while, then all of a sudden you’re back playing.”

Evans believes he’s more comfortable and calm now that he’s in his third season under Maas’s offensive system. He hasn’t started since July 25, 2024, against Saskatchewan, when he was replaced by Alexander to begin the second half. This marks his fourth start for the Als and 16th of his CFL career, having joined Ottawa in 2021.

His career, like many young quarterbacks, has been disjointed. He won two games in 2023, replacing the injured Cody Fajardo. Evans passed for a modest 149 yards against the Roughriders before producing 333 yards and two touchdowns at Ottawa.

But he failed to find similar success last season. Coming off the bench in the first half for Fajardo, Evans passed for 127 yards in a loss against Toronto. While he threw two touchdowns, Evans also was intercepted twice — one returned for a touchdown. When he continued struggling against Saskatchewan, Maas had seen enough.

Evans at least got the Als into the end zone last week against Edmonton, replacing Bethel-Thompson in the second half while completing 14 of 18 passes for 113 yards. While the 6-foot-3, 210-pounder has passed for a career 3,635 yards and 17 touchdowns, he also has been intercepted 22 times.

“After you go through the highs and lows, there’s not much more to go through,” Evans said. “You go through the lows and can’t get no lower. You’ve just got to go out there and sling, have fun and play ball. It’s about your perspective on everything. When you go through highs and lows, you kind of learn lessons. This has been a mental week for me. Physically, I should be there, moving around. I should be good.

“The reps haven’t been there, but football is football. You have to go out there and make plays. I don’t think (this is my last chance) but I don’t know. Opportunities come and go. It’s up to you, how you seize the opportunity. I’m calm right now. You’re always calm throughout the week. You get nervous before every game. The nerves never leave you.”

The Als remain without injured receivers Tyson Philpot and Austin Mack. Canadian tailback Sean Thomas-Erlington (neck) is sidelined, meaning Montreal will dress imports Travis Theis and Stevie Scott III. Cornerback Kabion Ento, defensive back Dionté Ruffin and safety Marc-Antoine Dequoy remain out.

Alexander was third on the Als’ depth chart last season, behind Fajardo and Evans, and seized his opportunity. But this organization largely has struggled without its starting quarterbacks over the years.

Maas said he simply wants to see Evans run the offence efficiently and make good decisions. Evans, like Alexander, can run when required and move the pocket.

“He has been tremendous about handling adversity throughout his career,” Maas said. “Things haven’t been easy. He was thrust in there early (at Ottawa). He came here and had to sit on the bench for a while. Any time he has been given an opportunity, he has done something with it. Then, obviously, it was taken away from him and he has had to fight his way back. But he always has kept the same composure. He’s an unselfish person who’s very committed to the game.”