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Puts 13-0 regular-season record on line Saturday against former mentor Cody Fajardo in Edmonton.
Published Jun 19, 2026 • 4 minute read
Alouettes quarterback Davis Alexander has passed for a CFL-leading 777 yards and four touchdowns this season.
Alouettes quarterback Davis Alexander has passed for a CFL-leading 777 yards and four touchdowns this season. Photo by Evan Buhler /Montreal Gazette
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It has taken more than one season due to injuries, but the student finally will face the teacher.
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Quarterback Cody Fajardo won a Grey Cup with the Alouettes in 2023 and was the game's most valuable player when Montreal defeated Winnipeg. But he was traded to Edmonton after the next season, having been supplanted by Davis Alexander.
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They didn't face each other in 2025, thanks to Alexander's recurring hamstring issues. But they'll finally get the opportunity Saturday, when the Als (2-0) meet Edmonton at Commonwealth Stadium (4 p.m., TSN3, RDS, TSN Radio-690, 99.5 FM).
"He (Fajardo) knows how much he means to me, from a football and leadership perspective," Alexander said this week after practice. "Everything that I went through those couple of years with Cody — we have nothing but love and respect for each other. He was an incredible mentor for me. The way he carries himself and his attitude."
The Als are undefeated and Alexander has passed for a league-leading 777 yards and four touchdowns. He has a career regular-season record of 13-0 and hasn't been intercepted in 2026. Edmonton is coming off a bye in the schedule, having won its opener at Ottawa 29-21. Fajardo passed for 266 yards and a touchdown. The Elks are attempting to go 2-0 for the first time since 2019.
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Here are some other thoughts and questions to ponder:
Is there another trick play coming? This is Anthony Calvillo's first full season calling the offensive plays — and the Als' former quarterbacking legend has already left his mark.
Three plays into last Friday's victory over Toronto, Calvillo called a flea-flicker. Tailback Travis Theis — playing without his Guardian Cap helmet — was the middle man as Alexander and Tyson Philpot connected on a 45-yard touchdown less than two minutes into the game.
"I loved the aggressiveness," Alexander said. "We used to run flea-flickers almost every game in college. I haven't hit one in a while, so that was fun. The aggressiveness keeps teams on their toes.
"I try and let A.C. just call the game," he added. "He's so good at calling the game and getting a feel for the game. He played the position, obviously, at the highest level possible. Sometimes I'm hoping he'll get to (a particular play). Other times I'm thinking this one came out of nowhere and was an incredible call. I'm not too worried about it. Let him do his thing and get into a rhythm. It's like playing quarterback. He gets into a rhythm offensively, calling the plays. He gets a feel and it's a beautiful thing."
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Only in the CFL: The Als had an opening this week for a returner after the release of Phillip Brooks, who fumbled in the fourth quarter against Toronto, perhaps sealing his fate.
So the team repatriated Mario Alford, who played for the Als from 2019 to '22. Traded to Saskatchewan in 2023, Alford was named the league's outstanding special-teams player that season and won a Grey Cup with the Roughriders in 2025 — against Montreal. He attended training camp with Hamilton this season, but was released after one exhibition game.
"It's like a circle," said Alford, 34. "It's a blessing to be here. Anything can happen at any given moment. I'm just excited to be back. It was tough (being released). I haven't been in that situation for a long time. I just stayed grounded ... stayed ready for this moment.
"I'm still fast at 34."
Despite having only one practice with his new team, Alford was added to the roster vs. Edmonton.
Injury front: The Als will be without receiver Jerreth Sterns and boundary linebacker Tyrice Beverette. Sterns was outstanding against the Argonauts, catching nine passes for 114 yards, while veteran Beverette is one of Montreal's defensive leaders.
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Najee Murray returns to play strong-side linebacker after missing one game, while placekicker Jose Maltos-Diaz has recovered from his groin injury and is expected to play. With his status uncertain this week, the Als signed former Ottawa kicker Lewis Ward, who goes onto the practice roster. Replacing Sterns will be the duo of Terique Owens and Canadian Kaseem Ferdinand.
Ferdinand dressed for four games last season, but has yet to catch a pass, while Owens — the son of former NFL receiver Terrell Owens — is making his CFL debut.
Elks receiver Austin Mack celebrates his touchdown during pre-season game against the Calgary Stampeders in Edmonton on May 29.
Elks receiver Austin Mack celebrates his touchdown during pre-season game against the Calgary Stampeders in Edmonton on May 29. Greg Southam / Postmedia
Look out, ol' Macky is back: Former Als receiver Austin Mack was released last winter — before being owed an off-season bonus — and resurfaced in Edmonton, reunited with Fajardo.
Mack, frequently injured with Montreal, had his most productive season in 2023, catching 78 passes for 1,154 yards, along with four touchdowns. Facing his former team this weekend could ignite an outstanding performance against the Als' inconsistent defence. He caught three passes for 26 yards against Ottawa and scored Edmonton's opening touchdown.
"That's one of the main reasons I wanted to sign here — to be with a guy (Fajardo) like that," Mack told Postmedia News this week. "I'm excited to be with him. We're going to make a lot of plays."
hzurkowsky@postmedia.com
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