Calvillo’s suspected concussion not only worry,
Popp not banking on Calvillo or any of his walking wounded playing Thursday against Lions
Jim Popp isn’t banking on quarterback Anthony Calvillo or any of the Montreal Alouettes’ walking wounded returning Thursday night to face the B.C. Lions.
Calvillo, who is suspected of having a concussion, was among eight Alouettes injured in their 24-21 road loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday. And given Montreal’s quick turnaround, interim head coach Popp is assuming all eight won’t suit up against B.C. (5-2).
“Guys were getting MRIs, seeing doctors (Monday) and (Tuesday) they sit down and get the final word of where they are but we can’t wait on that,” the Alouettes’ general manager said in a telephone interview. “We’ve had to move forward as though all eight aren’t playing and if you get one or two back, then great.
“But we’ve had to go into the thinking mode that we’re not going to have them and move forward.”
Calvillo, who will celebrate his 41st birthday Friday, was injured in the first half after taking a hard hit from Saskatchewan defensive end Ricky Foley. Pro football’s all-time passing leader had completed 4-of-8 passes for 85 yards at the time with Montreal (2-5) trailing 7-3.
Backup Josh Neiswander replaced Calvillo, completing 12-of-30 passes for 147 yards and two interceptions. It was Neiswander’s first CFL regular-season action.
“I’ve always said I don’t want to know who our next quarterback is, I hope our starter stays on the field,” Popp said. “That’s a good sign.
“You find guys, you prep them and if they are called to play then they go out there and play and either you win with them or you don’t and you realize if they’ve got it or they don’t have it.”
If Calvillo doesn’t play against B.C., Popp would expect Neiswander to start but could also see rookie Tanner Marsh getting some playing time. Both took snaps with the starting offence in practice last week prior to Montreal’s game in Regina.
“We planned last week that we’d play both if it came down to that and we ended up not because Josh handled it fairly well,” Popp said. “He’s the more experienced guy and he’s looked good in prac- tice but we could very easily see both of them if Anthony doesn’t play.”
Trouble is, Calvillo wasn’t the only Alouette hurt in Regina. Also injured were linebackers Bryn Roy (knee), Jonathan Beaulieu-Richard (ankle) and Kyries Hebert (knee), long-snapper Martin Bedard (shoulder), tackle Josh Bourke (knee), safety Mike Edem (shoulder) and receiver Brandon London (head).
What’s more, Roy, Beaulieu-Richard, Bedard, Bourke and Edem are all Canadians. Replacing all of them under normal circumstances would be a huge challenge, let alone on a short week.
“Even to get a guy off a practice roster, there’s a process to it,” Popp said. “If we were awarded a guy he wouldn’t get here in time to practise so there’s no sense in doing that.”