Four Changes to the Montreal Roster
The Montreal Alouettes have announced their lineup for the 113th Grey Cup, which they will play on Sunday against the Edmonton Elks at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, as reported by the Journal de Québec.
The main question mark surrounds Mustafa Johnson. The defensive tackle is listed as a starter, but his availability will be confirmed at the last minute. Limited in practice this week due to an ankle injury, he had an excellent game in the Eastern Conference Final, recording three tackles, one quarterback sack, and one forced fumble.
Named to the Eastern All-Star team, the 27-year-old has recorded 35 tackles, five sacks, and one touchdown in 17 games this season. He is listed alongside Daniel Wise on the inside of the defensive line, with veteran Dylan Wynn as the backup.
The Alouettes made four changes to their lineup. Wide receiver Cole Spieker, linebacker Riley MacLeod—promoted from the practice squad—and defensive backs Kabion Ento and Jonathan Sutherland are making their debuts. Ento will start at wide cornerback.
Key returns despite a few niggles
Spieker, who has caught 26 passes for 381 yards and three touchdowns in nine games, was limited on Thursday due to a hamstring injury. Ento, who has three fumble recoveries this season, was also limited on Thursday due to an ankle injury. Sutherland, a former first-round pick, has been a key player on special teams with 16 tackles.
To make room, running back Shomari Lawrence, wide receiver Regis Cibasu, linebacker Tyrell Richards, and defensive back Neil Campbell have been removed from the roster. Lawrence, Richards, and Campbell are recovering from injuries.
The Alouettes enter the final with a 15-4 record, including the playoffs, compared to the Elks' 14-5 record. Both teams were the best in the CFL from start to finish this season. They split their regular-season series: Edmonton won 32-29 in overtime in June, before Montreal responded with a 48-30 victory in August, fueled by 131 yards and three touchdowns from Tyson Philpot.
The battle on the line of scrimmage is likely to be decisive. Montreal's offensive line, which allowed only 19 sacks this season, will need to contain Malik Carney and Noah Taylor, two of the league's best pass-rushers. The forecast calls for mild weather for the game, with a high of 10 degrees in Calgary.
The Alouettes will be looking to win their ninth Grey Cup in franchise history, one year after their loss in the final to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The game will be broadcast on RDS, TSN, CTV, and Crave.
Sources
- Journal de Québec – Alouettes Roster Announced Ahead of the Grey Cup
- 3DownNation – Montreal Alouettes list Mustafa Johnson as a game-time decision for the Grey Cup
- CFL – 5 key matchups to watch in the 113th Grey Cup
- Radio-Canada – The 2024 and 2025 losses serve as motivation for the Alouettes
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