Alouettes' thrilling comeback win over Argos tempered by injury to QB Davis Alexander
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But the euphoria will be quickly tempered with the realization that starting quarterback Davis Alexander reinjured his hamstring and likely will be sidelined indefinitely, yet again. The Als have won four games with Alexander, but they've lost two without him. And that's a sobering statistic that's difficult to ignore.
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Alexander returned to the roster Thursday night at Molson Stadium against the Toronto Argonauts after missing two full games with a left hamstring injury sustained during the third quarter in Edmonton on June 19. And for almost three quarters, Alexander looked like a guy who was playing his first game in nearly a month.
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But Montreal overcame an 18-point third-quarter deficit, scoring the game's final 19 points, for an electrifying 26-25 victory over the defending Grey Cup champions before 19,354 spectators.
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The comeback began with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Cole Spieker — on third down no less — in the final minute of the third quarter. A three-yard run by tailback Sean Thomas-Erlington at 6:36 of the final period pulled the Als to within five points following an unsuccessful two-point convert.
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Alexander then provided the winning margin on a 10-yard bootleg with 1:46 remaining — but grabbed his left hamstring as he crossed the goal line. It was similar to how he was originally injured in Edmonton, running to his right on a passing play.
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It's almost certain Alexander won't play next Thursday, when the Als travel to Calgary. And while this victory moved Montreal (4-2) into first place in the East Division, can the team win if Alexander is sidelined indefinitely? Head coach Jason Maas said — assuming Alexander doesn't play against the Stampeders — McLeod Bethel-Thompson will be the starter. With the 37-year-old veteran behind centre, the Als lost to Hamilton and B.C.
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'I don't think anybody wants to lose their starting quarterback, ever,' Maas said. 'Davis gives us everything. He gave us everything right to the end tonight. We'll have to evaluate him and get him right, because I really don't want him playing again until he is right. We'll do everything in our power to make that happen. But we have guys behind him for a reason. You have to believe they're going to get the job done and they're going to do the job that's asked of them. That's why they're here. We're not just one guy. We're a full team. The next guy has to step up.'
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