Davis Alexander isn’t the only member of the Montreal Alouettes intending to play through a hamstring injury in the 112th Grey Cup.
Receiver Austin Mack has been limited all week at practice and hasn’t taken any reps with the starters, continuing to work with physiotherapists. Despite all that, the receiver intends to play on Sunday.
“Yes, 100 percent, I’m playing,” he told 3DownNation. “I intend on playing. I have been limited, but I’ve been able to run for the last two days. I feel good; now it’s about managing it and keeping it on track to be ready for Sunday.”
When asked about Mack’s response, head coach Jason Maas didn’t want to commit to his availability for the game. The receiver is still likely to be listed as a game-time decision.
“We’ve still got some looking at that to do,” Maas said. “He’s got another 48 hours, and we’re going to take it all the way to a game-time decision. But I want to hear Austin Mack talk like that. That’s the first step: the athlete has to believe he can do it. We still need to have the conversation.”
Mack told 3DownNation that he pulled his hamstring a couple of weeks ago and has been receiving treatment ever since. He reaggravated his injury in the East Final and took every precaution possible this week. When asked if his week has been going well with his rehab, he didn’t hesitate.
“Yes, for sure,” Mack said. “I’m very in tune with the game plan, I’m really locked in. I’m just ready to go.”
It’s the season of hamstring injuries for the Alouettes, with Alexander going through the same thing. The former Ohio State receiver joked about the difference between his treatments and his quarterback’s.
“Obviously, it’s a little different. His job is a little easier; he just has to throw the ball. I got to actually run,” he said. “It’s more aggressive for me. I need to get to a point where I can run and be consistent for the whole.”
Mack caught 48 passes this season for 674 yards and two touchdowns. He is looking to add bigger plays to his resume on Sunday, and he feels he has what it takes to deliver on the big stage.
“Big-time players, they make big plays in big games. This is the best stage to be on in the CFL,” he said. “I love to be in games. I’m just excited for the opportunities.”
The six-foot-one, 208-pounder has been established in Montreal with his family since last year. spending all winter in La Belle Province. He feels embraced by the community and wants Quebec to be respected.
“I’m all in. I came in for a reason: to be someone you guys can count on,” he insisted. “The amount of disrespect the province of Quebec and Montreal gets in most of this league and this country — it’s a lot. In Hamilton (in 2023), there was no ‘Coupe Grey,’ and now I see it. We want respect and to show who we are.”
The Saskatchewan Roughriders (13-6) and Montreal Alouettes (12-8) will meet in the 112th Grey Cup at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg on Sunday, November 16, with kickoff scheduled for 6:00 p.m. EST.
The Alouettes defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the East Final by a score of 19-16, while the Roughriders came back to defeat the B.C. Lions in the West Final by a score of 24-21. The teams split their two regular-season meetings, though Montreal franchise quarterback Davis Alexander missed both games due to a hamstring injury.
The weather forecast in Winnipeg calls for a high of two degrees with a mix of sun and cloud. The game will be broadcast on TSN, CTV, and RDS in Canada, CBS Sports Network in the United States, and CFL+ internationally.
This marks the fifth time the Grey Cup will be played in Winnipeg and the second time it will be hosted at Princess Auto Stadium. The venue’s first Grey Cup was held in 2015 when the Edmonton Football Team defeated the Ottawa Redblacks by a score of 26-20, and Michael Reilly was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.
Pablo is an Alouettes and CFL reporter based in Montreal.
