The Montreal Alouettes loaded up with offensive weapons on the first day of the 2023 free-agency period. Wide receiver Greg Ellingson and quarterback Cody Fajardo were the most notable players signed by the Alouettes. But several other free agents were signed by Montreal, including two additional quarterbacks.
Let’s look at the players that the Alouettes signed to start the free-agency period.
Wide receiver Greg Ellingson agreed to a one-year contract with the Alouettes. The 9-year CFL veteran has had five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons from 2015 until 2019. During the 2022 season, Ellingson produced 38 catches for 598 yards and scored three touchdowns while playing in 8 games for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. During his CFL career, which spans 125 games, Ellingson has accumulated 587 catches for 8,550 yards and 45 touchdowns.
Quarterback Cody Fajardo joins the Alouettes after playing with the Saskatchewan Roughriders since 2019. The 6’2″, 223-pound quarterback had a 95.4 quarterback rating while leading the Roughrider’s offence during the 2022 season. Fajardo is a six-year veteran, with his most notable moment being a game-winning touchdown that he scored in 2017 to lead the Toronto Argonauts to a game-winning touchdown.
The Alouettes also signed quarterback Caleb Evans; the 24-year-old quarterback played in all 18 games for the Ottawa Redblacks during the 2022 season. The 6’2″, 210-pound Evans set a record for the most rushing touchdown in a season with 16 touchdowns. He also had 114 completions on 185 passing attempts for four touchdowns.
Montreal re-signed backup quarterback Davis Alexander to a one-year extension. The 6’0″, 195-pound quarterback had eight completions on 13 passing attempts for 89 yards in 2022. He also had five rushing attempts for 22 rushing yards and a touchdown. Collegiately, Davis produced 10,473 total yards while playing at Portland State.
Montreal also signed offensive lineman Justin Lawrence. The 6’1″, 310-pound offensive centre helped Toronto win the 2022 Grey Cup and Calgary win the 2017 Grey Cup. The 26-year-old Lawrence is a USports product and played collegiately at the University of Alberta.
The Alouettes signed another USports player out of York University, fullback James Tuck. The 6’0″, 230-pound Tuck was drafted by Montreal in the 4th round of the 2014 CFL Draft. He has played with Montreal, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Toronto, and Saskatchewan during his career. He has appeared in 87 games, produced 53 special teams tackles, and forced two fumbles.
The Alouettes also signed national long snapper Louis Phillipe-Bourassa. The 31-year-old long snapper comes from the Ottawa Redblacks, where he played 75 games, including the Redblacks Grey Cup victory in 2016. He also helped the University of Montreal win a Vanier Cup in 2014.
Follow me on Twitter: @AaronSauter7
