THE CANADIAN PRESS
MONTREAL — Bad has turned to worse for the Montreal Alouettes’ receiving corps, as Kenny Stafford has been placed on the six-game injured list with a fractured big toe.
The injury won’t require surgery, the team announced Thursday, but is significant enough that he will be out of the lineup for an extended period of time. Stafford injured his foot during last Thursday’s 28-13 loss to the Ottawa REDBLACKS in the Alouettes’ home-opener.
Further testing revealed the severity of the injury, adding to the Als’ recent woes that include a season-ending knee injury to S.J. Green and a one-game suspension handed down to Duron Carter.
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Stafford. a 6-foot-3, 204-pound receiver who clocked a 4.30 40-time coming out of Toledo, started his second stint as an Alouette this off-season after signing as a free agent. He was traded to the Edmonton last year, where he became a premier receiving target for Grey Cup MVP Mike Reilly and went on to win a Grey Cup with the Eskimos.
Given his first crack at consistent playing time, Stafford was the Eskimos’ deep threat in 2015 and tied third in the CFL with nine receiving touchdowns to go with 732 yards.
Montreal has a bye in Week 3 before hosting the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Week 4. Stafford’s injury leaves the Als and starting quarterback Kevin Glenn without their top three receiving options for that game, meaning Nik Lewis, B.J. Cunningham and Samuel Giguere should emerge as go-to options in the Als’ offence until Carter’s return in Week 5.
Stafford, 26, is in his fourth CFL season and has eight catches for 85 yards in two games in 2016.
