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An injured Cody Fajardo didn’t get the opportunity to face his former team last Friday, when the Alouettes defeated Saskatchewan.
But as luck would have it, Fajardo remains sidelined with an injury to his left shoulder. And that means Caleb Evans will face his former team, Ottawa, Saturday night at TD Place (7 p.m., TSN1, TSN5, RDS, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM). Evans spent two seasons with the Redblacks before signing with Montreal for two seasons as a free agent.
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If Evans is seeking to extract revenge and manages the game properly, the Als will win a fourth consecutive game. The Redblacks are on a three-game losing skid.
“It’ll be emotional for sure, but I think I’ll treat it like any other week, trying to (win),” Evans said. “But it’ll definitely be emotional because I was there for two years. I can’t (deny) that fact, but have to push past that.
“I think in my younger days — I’m pretty young right now — it probably would have been key to prove something to them,” added Evans, 25. “But in Year 3 it’s more about being grateful for the opportunities I get to play football.”
While the Als scored a season-high 41 points against the Roughriders, Evans wasn’t asked to frequently pass. He attempted only 13 throws, completing eight, for 149 yards — most of that total accumulated on two big plays, to Walter Fletcher and Austin Mack. Evans was more effective as a runner, gaining 66 yards on 11 carries, including two short-yardage touchdowns.
He’ll never be regarded as a prolific passer.
“We just want to see improvement,” Als head coach Jason Maas said of Evans. “The offence is what it is with him in there. I just want to have him play within himself. Make the right reads and throws when they’re there. When he has to (run) make something happen. Ultimately just make good decisions. That’s what a professional quarterback does. Any time you’re on the road that’s paramount.
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“There are strengths that (Evans) has. We have to play to his strengths a little bit more. I know Caleb can do more. There were other things in the game plan we didn’t get to. You always look at what your quarterback can do compared to (Fajardo).”
Evans started 13 games over two seasons with Ottawa, passing for 2,580 yards and nine touchdowns while completing 60.5 per cent of his attempts. He also was intercepted 16 times. Against Saskatchewan, one play following a Kabion Ento interception and with the ball at the Riders 26, Evans delivered a terrible ball into the end zone for Tyler Snead that was pilfered.
“It was a great overall performance, doing what I needed to do, as far as following the game-plan,” Evans said. “Guys rallied around and us playing with each other.”
Tailback William Stanback returns to the active roster after sitting out last week with an injury. But that also means Fletcher is back on the one-game injured list. Defensive-tackle Almondo Sewell also returns following a one-game absence. Veteran guard Kristian Matte, who practised sparingly this week, is a game-time decision. The Als also have activated import offensive-lineman Jamar McGloster, who would rotate with Canadian Jesse Gibbon.
While the Redblacks (3-6) have proven they can score points, their defensive secondary was vulnerable against Toronto last Sunday. Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly passed for 417 yards and four touchdowns.
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