Training Camp Notebook: A new beginning
The Montreal Alouettes kicked off their 2025 training camp in Saint-Jérôme at the Complexe sportif Claude-Beaulieu on Sunday afternoon.
Almost 100 players took the field for the first day of training camp, but the team is expected to make a handful of cuts in the middle of the week.
“(We want to see) growth and consistency,” head coach Jason Maas said of the newcomers to the roster. “You want to see them absorb the information given to them every day. The league is new to them, and the pace of play is different. For a lot of these guys, it’s 12-man football…everything is different for them.
“Compete has to be there and the willingness to learn has to be there.”
Prior to the start of practice, the team released Canadian defensive lineman Anthony Bennett and suspended Global punter Joseph Zema, American defensive back Cameron Brown, American defensive lineman Jerron Cage, and American receiver Sean Ryan.
Quarterback Davis Alexander, who signed a three-year contract extension with the team during the off-season, is coming into this season as the team’s undisputed starting quarterback for the first time.
“I’m still the same person and same type of leader,” Alexander said on Sunday. “It was a blast to be out here with the guys. It’s so much fun and I can’t wait for the season.
“I tried to approach the off-season the same way the past three seasons. At some point, you have to expect to play, and that was my hope for the last three years. I had the same off-season.”
The 26-year-old pivot added six to seven pounds of muscle this winter.
As you’d expect, expectations around the organization are high this year. The Als are coming off a league best 12-win season in 2024.
“We’re always aiming high,” general manager Danny Maciocia told members of the media. “The number one objective is always to win the Grey Cup. We have other objectives, too. We want to play well in the second half of the year. We also want to finish first in the East Division and we want to play one playoff game in front of our home fans, who are the best in the league in my opinion. We want to be in Winnipeg (for the Grey Cup).”
The Alouettes will be back on the field in Saint-Jérôme on Monday morning at 9:15 am. For the full training camp schedule: click here.
