Preview And Live Stream: Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-0) @ Montreal Alouettes (1-1)
By Jared Book
Today, the Montreal Alouettes welcome the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to Molson Stadium for Winnipeg’s only visit to Montreal. Winnipeg was the worst team in the league last season and moved to the Western Division and promptly started 2-0 with wins over the Toronto Argonauts and Ottawa RedBlacks under new head coach Mike O’Shea.
Game Time: 7:00 p.m. Eastern
Live Stream Information: WatchESPN(USA) | TSN GO (Canada)
Troy Smith played a much better game after struggling in the season opener, and the Montreal defence stepped up and not only scored first, but held the B.C. Lions scoreless for most of the game as well.
They will need another big game from their defence as they get set to face Drew Willy and a much improved Winnipeg offence. There will be some changes for the Alouettes in this one. Starting cornerback Chris Smith is on the one game injured list as is Michael Carter. The good news is that Mike Edem has been activated from the 1-game injured list. Defensive backs Dominique Ellis and Jamahl Knowles were activated from the practice roster.
Other changes saw fullback/special teams player Jerod Zaleski added to the practice roster and receiver Bo Bowling added to the 1-game injured list. Offensive lineman Jake Piotrowski was activated from the practice roster. The Alouettes had a scare last game when Jeff Perrett went down. They will now likely have two backups dressed this week.
Two players still need to be scratched before the game gets underway as the 46-man roster gets cut down to a 44-man game roster. That was increased from 42-men in the new collective bargaining agreement.
Scott Paxson will start his second straight game replacing the still-injured Jermaine McElveen. Duron Carter is also still injured. Brandon London will start in his place.
For Winnipeg, notable former Alouettes include Ejiro Kuale who also spent time with Toronto. Four players who played CIS football in Quebec return with the Blue Bombers: Punter Mike Renaud (Concordia), linebacker Jesse Briggs (McGill), fullback Michel-Pierre Pontbriand (Laval) and receiver Julian Feoli-Gudino (Laval).
Notable injuries for the Bombers are receiver Cory Watson and defensive back Alex Suber. Both are on the one-game injured list.