Do-it-all RB Travis Theis returns for Montreal Alouettes in East Final

Photo: Steven Chang/B.C. Lions

The Montreal Alouettes are getting one of their most promising offensive weapons back in the lineup for Saturday’s East Final clash with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Rookie running back Travis Theis will make his return from an ankle injury suffered in mid-September. The 24-year-old native of Pratt, Kan. has rushed 70 times for 365 yards, caught 19 passes for 162 yards, returned 19 kickoffs for 364 yards, and 13 punt returns for 175 yards and one touchdown over 12 games this season.

Theis is listed as the backup behind Stevie Scott III, who ran for 133 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s East Semi-Final. The pair will form a thunder-and-lightning duo at the expense of Canadian veteran Sean Thomas-Erlington, who has been made a healthy scratch.

Defensively, the team has sat down halfback Dionte Ruffin with no injury designation and will go with Robert Kennedy III to the field side. Don Callis will dress as insurance in the secondary, while backup Canadian linebacker Riley MacLeod takes the place of American Bubba Bolden to fulfill ratio requirements.

Star receiver Austin Mack is listed as a game-time decision with a leg injury, but told 3DownNation on Thursday that he will play. Defensive tackle Mustafa Johnson will not, missing a second consecutive playoff game with a shoulder injury.

The Montreal Alouettes (11-8) will visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (11-7) for the East Final on Saturday, November 8 at Hamilton Stadium with kickoff slated for 3:00 p.m. EST. The Alouettes defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the East Semi-Final by a score of 42-33, while the Tiger-Cats were on bye after finishing atop the East Division standings.

The weather forecast in Hamilton calls for a high of seven degrees with a 30 percent chance of showers. The game will be broadcast on TSN, CTV, and RDS in Canada and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune in on TSN 690 in Montreal and the Ticats Audio Network.