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Fourth-string pivot James Morgan replaces Caleb Evans in Als’ one-sided defeat in Vancouver.
Author of the article:
Montreal Gazette
Montreal Gazette
Herb Zurkowsky
Published Aug 17, 2025 • Last updated 12 minutes ago • 4 minute read
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B.C. Lions' Justin McInnis scores a touchdown past Montreal Alouettes' Tyrice Beverette Aug. 16 in Vancouver. DARRYL DYCK/THE CANADIAN PRESS
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It doesn’t matter whether it’s the NFL or CFL. It’s virtually impossible to win with a backup quarterback.
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Ten games into the season, the Alouettes already have lost three quarterbacks to injury and are now down to James Morgan, who was fourth on the depth chart when the schedule began last June. He has been active for only five of Montreal’s 10 games and was on the one-game injured list the remainder of the time.
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But he might have to attempt to carry the Als for the foreseeable future now that the team is without Davis Alexander, McLeod Bethel-Thompson and Caleb Evans.
Morgan was pressed into action early in the second quarter of B.C.’s convincing 36-18 victory over Montreal Saturday night before 23,318 spectators at BC Place.
Evans, who was starting for the first time since July 25, 2024, suffered an injury to his right knee on the opening play of the second quarter after being sacked for a 13-yard loss. It was the third time in barely more than 15 minutes this supposedly mobile quarterback was hit for a loss when, on at least one occasion, he simply could have thrown the ball away.
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Evans suffered a season-ending knee injury last August and, although he was re-signed by Montreal and worked diligently to return, should this be another major setback, it could potentially be career-threatening. At the very least, the Als organization almost certainly would move on from what has to be considered damaged goods.
But that’s a story for another day.
As for Morgan, considering he has received limited practice reps and was playing for the first time in a regular-season game, he acquitted himself admirably under the circumstances.
He completed 20 of 33 passes for 211 yards and a touchdown on a 35-yard pass to Tyler Snead, although Morgan was intercepted on the subsequent two-point convert attempt.
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“I thought he did a tremendous job,” head coach Jason Maas told reporters in Vancouver. “For him to go out and do what he did offensively, I commend him. He prepares like a starter, and he obviously proved it tonight.”
Morgan looked confident on the field and has a strong passing arm. It wasn’t his fault that Maas repeatedly had him throwing short screen passes that displayed a total lack of imagination. Opposing defensive co-ordinators throughout the CFL undoubtedly are licking their chops when they see an upcoming game against the Als on the schedule.
The Als remain one of the league’s most impotent offensive teams. Four times they were in the red zone. And four times they had to settle for field goals from Jose Maltos Diaz — the longest from 41 yards. When a 24-yard attempt in the third quarter struck the left upright, it broke a string of 12 consecutive field goals.
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“We got down in the red zone a number of times and didn’t score touchdowns,” Maas said in Vancouver. “Right now, that’s what we’ve got to be able to do, particularly when we’re on the road, playing against a high-powered team. You need to turn those field goals into touchdowns, and we weren’t able to do that tonight.”
Montreal, which was held to one offensive touchdown against Edmonton on Aug. 8, didn’t find the end zone against the Lions until more than 56 minutes had elapsed. The Als have scored a league-low 17 offensive touchdowns but lead the CFL in field goals, with 32.
That statistic alone is a recipe for disaster. Not surprisingly, the Als now have lost three straight games and have a 5-5 record after beginning the season 3-0 under Alexander, now on the six-game injured list (hamstring).
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Montreal remains second in the East Division and is in no immediate danger of missing the playoffs — simply because of the ineptitude of both Ottawa and Toronto. But for the second consecutive week, the Als squandered an opportunity to move into a tie with Hamilton (6-4), which lost earlier on Saturday at Saskatchewan.
The Als this week signed former Toronto quarterback Cameron Dukes, who now becomes the team’s backup should Evans be sidelined indefinitely — which appears almost certain. It also means a third QB will have to be signed immediately. One possibility is Shea Patterson, a former Alouette who most recently spent two seasons with Saskatchewan.
Regardless of what’s transpiring on the offensive side, the Als’ defence continues letting this team down — week after week. It’s now becoming a broken record. This team has surrendered more than 30 points in two of the last three games. The three-man front isn’t working. The zone coverage is being picked apart and the cornerbacks are being exploited.
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Nathan Rourke, the Lions’ Canadian quarterback, completed 26 of 34 passes for 382 yards and four touchdowns. In the third quarter, Rourke led his team on a six-play, 100-yard scoring drive, and he didn’t throw a second-half incompletion until late in the fourth quarter. B.C. wasn’t forced to punt in the first half.
Not only have the Lions defeated Montreal six consecutive times, the Als haven’t won in Vancouver since 2015. They’re now 1-5 without Alexander heading into Thursday night’s home game against Winnipeg before the team has its second bye week of the schedule — and management attempts to stop the bleeding.
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