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Keeping oft-injured starting pivot healthy this season will be key to team's success.
Published May 06, 2026 • Last updated 13 minutes ago • 3 minute read
Quarterback Davis Alexander throws a pass during Alouettes training camp in St-Jérôme on May 15, 2025.
Quarterback Davis Alexander throws a pass during Alouettes training camp in St-Jérôme on May 15, 2025. Photo by John Mahoney /Montreal Gazette
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For the Alouettes, it all begins and ends with Davis Alexander.
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As the Als prepare for Sunday's launch of training camp at Université Laval in Ste-Foy, the hope and belief of general manager Danny Maciocia is that Alexander will emerge from the three-week odyssey healthy and prepared for the start of the regular season.
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"If we can get out of it relatively healthy with our starting quarterback," Maciocia told The Gazette by telephone. "Seeing him have the type of camp I think he could have."
Alexander, at least for the time being, will be associated with the hamstring injury that limited him to seven regular-season games and hampered his effectiveness in the Als' Grey Cup loss to Saskatchewan last November.
While Alexander played the first three games — all wins — he had to miss several camp workouts due to the recurring hamstring issues that first materialized in April. And the injury continued dogging him throughout the year.
It won't be surprising if the coaching staff closely monitors their thoroughbred this month, careful not to overexert Alexander. He'll likely start Montreal's first exhibition game on May 22 against Ottawa at Molson Stadium, but should be a healthy scratch one week later, when the teams meet again in the nation's capital.
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"Obviously, we're going to manage his load, but he'll get the work he needs to get," Maciocia said. "He needs to be sharp coming out of training camp. There will be a healthy exchange of thoughts and dialogue for Davis Alexander and other players. They'll get their share of work to be physically and mentally ready, but also have them ready to compete in Week 1."
Linebacker Tyrese Beverette chases the play during Alouettes training camp in St-Jérôme on May 15, 2025.John Mahoney / Montreal Gazette
Linebacker Tyrese Beverette chases the play during Alouettes training camp in St-Jérôme on May 15, 2025.
As a Grey Cup finalist after a 10-8 season, Maciocia was judicious in his free-agent shopping in February. The Als added quarterback Dustin Crum from Ottawa to back up Alexander; receiver Jerreth Sterns from Winnipeg, having lost Austin Mack and Charleston Rambo; and veteran returner DeVonte Dedmon from the Redblacks after the departure of James Letcher Jr.
Although Sterns is only 5-foot-8 and 183 pounds, Maciocia believes he can be productive. The 26-year-old spent two seasons with Saskatchewan before going to Winnipeg as a free agent. He caught 48 passes for 530 yards while scoring four touchdowns for the Blue Bombers in 2025.
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The Als hope he can rediscover the touch he displayed as a senior at Western Kentucky in 2021. In 14 games, Sterns caught 150 passes for 1,902 yards while scoring 17 touchdowns.
"I love his route running and I like his hands," Maciocia said. "He was highly productive coming out of college. He has bounced around a bit in the CFL, but I believe he can possibly find a home here. I know he's not getting the play that maybe others are getting, but he's an interesting guy. And I do like him."
Another potential receiver to keep an eye on is Sean Ryan, 6-foot-3 and 198 pounds. He ended his collegiate career at Rutgers and spent portions of two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens.
With middle-linebacker Darnell Sankey now in B.C. and the retirement of safety Marc-Antoine Dequoy, the Als have two defensive holes to fill.
The hard-hitting Micah Awe, who spent 2022 with Montreal, has been repatriated from B.C. to possibly play middle linebacker — and at a considerably lower salary than Sankey was earning. Awe likely will share playing time with Canadian Geoffrey Cantin-Arku.
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Three non-imports are expected to battle as Dequoy's replacement — Nate Beauchemin, who was active for the Grey Cup; Arthur Hamlin, who also dressed for the Cup and has the versatility to play linebacker; and former 2023 first-round (fifth overall) draft choice Jonathan Sutherland, who has spent the last three seasons in the NFL, with Seattle, the New York Giants and Las Vegas.
Among possible defensive newcomers, the Als are bullish on defensive-back Cale Saunders, defensive-tackle Daniel Wise and rush ends Kylan Guidry and Diwun Black. Wise, 6-foot-3 and 279 pounds, played 17 games with the Washington Commanders, including two starts.
"I like the foundation and the way we've built it through the draft," Maciocia said. "For the most part, we have a good foundation and nucleus. This is a team that's still relatively young and battle-tested over the last three years. I'm optimistic with the guys that are back and the few gems that we're going to discover here over the next three weeks."
With only three weeks and two exhibition games, newcomers must take advantage of every opportunity presented.
"Being productive day in and day out," Maciocia said.
hzurkowsky@postmedia.com
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