Peter McCabe/CFL.ca
MONTREAL – The old ‘next man up’ adage is so often overplayed in sports, but the Montreal Alouettes are taking it to new heights.
Injuries have hit the Alouettes hard – the offence that takes the field in bleu, blanc et rouge on Friday night vs. Hamilton will barely resemble the one Alouettes fans saw play on the road in a Week 1 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Where some may see problems, however, some Alouettes see an opportunity.
“Injuries happen to all teams,” Alouettes running back Brandon Rutley told MontrealAlouettes.com. “All we can do is execute the plays that we have been practising and everything will be all right.”
Rutley, a Tuscaloosa, Ala. native, draws the start in the Alouettes’ backfield after Tyrell Sutton was placed on the six-game injured list.
“It’s really an opportunity for me to go on the field and give it my all and show what I am capable of doing.”
RELATED:
» Buy: Ticats at Alouettes tickets
» Carter eligible to play; appeal to be heard Aug. 17
» Preview: Alouettes seek first home win vs. Ticats
» Game Notes: All you need to know for Week 4
» Weekly Predictor: Who is Nye taking?
Als receiver B.J. Cunningham could be a major factor on Friday night (Jason Halstead/CFL.ca)
That’s also the case for several others on the Alouettes, from usual second-string quarterback Rakeem Cato to second-year receiver B.J. Cunningham.
Cato is getting the nod at quarterback as Kevin Glenn sits due to eye inflammation and should be particularly amped to get another chance to prove himself. After all, while he had become an afterthought in camp this year, it was only a year ago that Cato was the talk of the league.
Now 24, Cato threw for 2,167 yards with nine touchdowns and nine interceptions as a 23-year-old in 2015 after going into the year as the third-string quarterback.
Even bigger questions come at the receiver position, where a season-ending knee injury has sidelined S.J. Green. Kenny Stafford joins him on the sideline after being placed on the six-game injured list with a toe injury, while Duran Carter is expected to play on Friday as he appeals a one-game suspension handed down following Week 2.
It means that while Cato and Rutley will take responsibility in the Als’ backfield, someone different will have to make an impact catching the football. One player who’s been waiting for his opportunity is the 27-year-old Cunningham.
“It’s my second year, I’m technically a veteran now in the CFL,” said Cunningham, who picked up 308 receiving yards and four touchdowns over eight games last season. “I’m still learning but each year I want to progress and be better and learn and keep getting better.”
Cunningham became a regular on the offence starting in Week 13 and built momentum, finishing his last three games with 13 catches for 192 yards.
Rutley, meanwhile, is a fourth-year veteran with a 5.9-yard career rushing average. Last season he rushed for 454 yards behind league-leading rusher Sutton.
The new-look Als may be a little less experienced but should more than make up for it with their excitement to get in the lineup and make an impact.
“Everybody’s excited,” said Cunningham. “We know we’ve got to step it up and come out ready to play and make plays for our team.
“At the end of the day we’re going to come out with it and we’re going to play hard and try our best to come out with that ‘W’.”
Added Rutley: “My goal, going into Friday night’s game, is to give the very best of myself.”
The Alouettes and Ticats square off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday night.
