From CFL Transactions, we know some of this week’s changes:
IN
DE Bo Banner (from Practice Roster)
RB Lawrence Pittman (from Practice Roster)
RT Na’Ty Rodgers (from Practice Roster)
LB Nicolas Boulay (from 1-game Injured List)
RB Stefan Logan (from 6-game Injured List)
QB Johnny Manziel (from 1-game Injured List)
OUT
DB Tyquwan Glass (to Practice Roster)
LB Kevin Haynes (to Practice Roster)
DE Willie Mays III (to Practice Roster)
LG Philip Blake (to Suspended List)
LB Jean-Gabriel Poulin (to 1-game Injured List)
RB William Standback (to 1-game Injured List)
QB Austin Apodaca (released)
Antonio Pipkin is supposed to be listed as the starting QB. Considering Johnny Manziel received a number of first team reps, I would expect to see take at least some snaps during the game. How many probably depends on how well the Als move the ball.
CFL Transactions does not even list Gabriel Knapton signing with the Als. I do not know what his status is for this game. I would assume he starts, but we will have to wait for the team to release the position chart.
Although Tony Washington left practice early on Monday, it looks like he will start at LT as Tyler Johnstone remains on the 1-game Injured List.
Philip Blake went home to witness the birth of his child. Team moved him to the Suspended List.
William Stanback was injured last week while attempting to make a play on the Pipkin pick-6. Lawrence Pittman who the team signed last week makes his CFL debut.
Stefan Logan returns from the 6-game Injured List.
On this week’s Flightdeck, there was mention of a brief conversation with Vernon Adams where Adams was puzzled as to why he was on the 6-game Injured List. The implication here is Adams’ injury is not that bad.
Also, here are this week’s Als mentions in Kirk Penton’s INSIDERS SAY:
-How does Kavis Reed get Landon Rice in a big (bleeping) trade and turn around and cut him three weeks later? That’s a hard one to explain to your owner, especially when you gave up two starters and two number one draft picks in that deal.
-We wanted Landon Rice when Montreal cut him, but (bleep) me, Hamilton got him back.
-(Antonio) Pipkin looks like the real deal, and (Johnny) Manziel has showed some flashes, too. Never thought I would say this a month ago, but Montreal might have the best young quarterback combo in our league.
-(Antonio) Pipkin seamed to have a better command of things around him. Plus, sometimes it’s as simple as ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ Pipkin won, so don’t make a change for the sake of making changes.