6 players to watch in preseason finale on Friday

The Alouettes will play their final preseason game on Friday night in Ottawa. It’ll be an important clash for many players, as their jobs will be on the line. The team will have to make cuts over the weekend, and a lot of the decisions will be based on what each individual player puts on tape Friday.

Expect to see a very “young” lineup in Ottawa on Friday night. So, who should you be keeping an eye on during the game?

5 – Caleb Evans – QB:

Head coach Jason Maas said that Evans would start and play a lot if he was cleared by doctors, and it looks like he got the green light. Evans hasn’t played since suffering a season-ending knee injury last August in Hamilton.

The 26-year-old is entering his third season with the Alouettes. He’s primarily played a short-yardage role, but he also won two critical games as the starter in 2023.

These reps will be important for Evans because he hasn’t played in so long and this will be a perfect opportunity to knock some rust off.

31 – Travis Theis – RB:

Theis joined the team last week but still suited up in the first preseason game. He only had a couple of touches, but his fourth quarter punt return was awfully impressive. It showed what he could do with the ball in his hands.

With veteran running back Walter Fletcher not in the lineup, expect the young backs to get a lot more run in the second exhibition game. Stevie Scott III, who has had a strong showing in camp, will get the start for the Als. Theis should be right behind him sometime in the second half.

Last season, the Als kept a running back on the practice roster (Scott III) all year, so there is definitely room for two Americans to be part of the organization in 2025. It’ll be interesting to see who will go out and earn that spot.

38 – Riley Macleod – LB:

MacLeod was the Alouettes’ final pick in the 2025 CFL Draft, but he’s quietly put together a very strong camp.

Eighth round picks don’t typically make it in the CFL, but the Alouettes have done some great work finding gems late in the draft. Brock Gowanlock and MacLeod’s former teammate at Western, Zach Lindley, have both made the Als roster in recent years and they both contributed to the team that won the Grey Cup in 2023.

Could Macleod be the next eighth-rounder to make an impact on the field for the organization? It’s entirely possible. As is always the case with young Canadians though, he’ll have to make a name for himself on special teams early on.

55 – Kori Roberson Jr. – DT:

Roberson Jr. was another late addition to camp, but he’s made a strong impression during his short time here. First, it’s tough not to notice him on the inside of the defensive line because he’s so big (6-foot-3, 300 pounds). He’s also very physical at the point of attack and isn’t shy about throwing his weight around.

The Alouettes have two veteran defensive tackles on the roster in Dylan Wynn and Shawn Oakman, but a strong showing against the Redblacks could get Roberson on the roster as a rotational player or on the practice squad.

64 – Ed Montilus – OL:

The former North Carolina Tar Heel is a quiet individual who lets his play do the talking on the field. Montilus has lined up in several different positions up front throughout camp and he’s managed to look good. Showing positional flexibility is huge for any offensive lineman in the CFL.

Montilus, who spent some time on the practice roster in 2024, will get the start at left tackle for the Als on Friday night. If he finishes training off on the right note, he could be in the mix for a spot in the offensive line room next week.

88 – Tyjon Lindsey – WR:

Lindsey lit up the Redblacks as a returner in the second preseason game of last year. He was dynamic and found a way to give his team great field position in that contest. In the end, he ended up spending most of the year on the PR and even suited up when James Letcher Jr. was forced to miss some action due to injury.

For the most part, CFL teams like carrying an extra returner somewhere on their roster because it’s hard to find guys in a pinch if something happens to your primary guy.

Of course, Lindsey is also a solid receiver who could make his way onto the roster that way too.

With Lindsay, Theis and a few others in the mix, it’ll be interesting to see who serves as James Letcher Jr.’s backup when camp breaks.