Alouettes turn to veteran QB Harris as starter against Bombers

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Trevor Harris will become the Alouettes’ third starting quarterback this season when Montreal travels to Winnipeg on Saturday night.

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And any uncertainty about who would get head coach Khari Jones’s nod quickly dissipated during practice Tuesday. Matthew Shiltz was not only noted for his absence, but will be placed on the disabled list for a game, due to a knee injury that gave him problems last week.

Defending Gray Cup champion Blue Bombers (10-1) have yet to lose at home this season and have already guaranteed they will finish first in the West Division. Still, the Als (6-5) could clinch a playoff spot even before entering the field if BC loses at Hamilton on Friday night.

Harris, 35, was acquired more than two weeks ago from Edmonton after he was benched and did not get dressed. Apparently he was initially contracted as an insurance policy for Shiltz, who was replacing the injured Vernon Adams Jr.

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But Shiltz was replaced by Harris late in the third quarter of Saturday’s 19-14 loss to Saskatchewan after completing just seven of 13 passes for 106 yards along with an interception. Harris completed 12 of 15 passes for 123 yards along with the Als’ only touchdown despite just three days of practice.

Harris also gained 31 yards on three carries, although he could have been rushing for his life after the Als’ offensive line allowed five sacks.

“With Vernon (injured) and creating a space for me to be on the list, having me as an insurance policy was the initial thought,” said Harris, a two-time Gray Cup champion and a nine-year veteran. “Now, sometimes you have to take advantage of that; the fact that Matt is screwed up.

“I know that many people, from abroad, would say that this is inevitable. My job is to be a cog in the engine while I’m there and do my best until I’m asked to play a different role. I will do whatever role they ask me to do. I play for the Montreal Alouettes. I’m having fun playing soccer again, which has been amazing. “

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Harris will return to the scene for one of his worst games this season, and the one that ultimately ended his association with Edmonton. When the Elks played the Blue Bombers on October 8, he completed just nine of 22 passes for 87 yards during a 30-3 loss. Harris was not dressed for a rematch against Winnipeg a week later and was traded two days later.

A month earlier, however, he passed for 398 yards and four touchdowns against Calgary. He suffered a neck injury during the rematch against the Stampeders, forcing him to miss two games.

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“There will always be times in your life when you don’t know what the next step is,” said Harris, who is deeply spiritual. “That is the important thing about what we go through. It is not what we are doing, but who we are becoming. There are all kinds of things that I was trying to think of every time I was going through things. “

Jones, meanwhile, will likely sleep better at night knowing the franchise has its most experienced quarterback since Anthony Calvillo. Harris will be backed by rookie Shea Patterson.

“Having a veteran presence like (Harris), who has seen a lot, is good for the club,” Jones said. “Because he is who he is, I think he did a good job of entering the locker room and involving the players. He is a true professional. It has not been a very difficult transition. The most important thing is to make sure you feel good about what you are doing.

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“That’s why we went out looking for him, for this reason in particular. If the need arose, we wanted to make sure we had someone who has that experience and can still do things on the field. “

Meanwhile, the Als are expected to move veteran right guard Kristian Matte to rookie center Patrick Davis. David Foucault will play as a right guard and the Als are hoping that the injured Philippe Gagnon (lower leg) will return to play as a left guard. If not, Samuel Thomassin will probably start there.

Matte was the starting center for the Als in late 2019.

Martese Jackson, who made his debut as a returns specialist, suffered a concussion but has not experienced any symptoms since Saturday’s game. That probably means Dante Absher is the next man.

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