LENNOXVILLE – On Tuesday, following the Alouettes’ training camp practice at Bishop’s University, middle-linebacker Bear Woods told montrealgazette.com how much he was anticipating this Friday’s exhibition game against Toronto at Molson Stadium.
Woods hasn’t played in a game since tearing his pectoral muscle, last July 3, against Calgary.
But late Tuesday night, when the Als had to reduce their camp roster to 65 by 11:59 p.m., the team announced Woods had returned home for personal reasons and has been placed on the suspended list – although he’s expected to return in the “near future,” the team stated in its release.
Woods, the East Division’s outstanding defensive player in 2014, played only two games last season before succumbing to his injury. He was replaced for 10 games by rookie Kyler Elsworth.
But Elsworth was among the nine players released on Tuesday. He was the biggest name jettisoned.
Elsworth produced 48 tackles and four quarterback sacks in 2015. He also recovered two fumbles, returning one 41 yards for a touchdown, while forcing two others. He completed the season on the injured list, eventually being replaced by late-season addition Henoc Muamba. Muamba himself was subsequently released last winter.
Elsworth’s release, combined with the absence of Woods, could pave the way in the immediate future for rookie Nick Temple. The 5-foot-10, 224-pound Temple, who played collegiately at Cincinnati, was active in last week’s opening exhibition game at Winnipeg, producing five tackles.
Other players released included wide-receiver Jerry Rice Jr., offensive-tackle Vincent Brown, running-back Jewel Hampton, defensive-back Victor Hampton, guard Quinn Lawlor, wide-receiver Demarlon Morris, cornerback Nathan Slaughter and defensive-end Diaheem Watkins.
Victor Hampton missed Tuesday’s practice with a concussion, sealing his fate. Lawlor, meanwhile, was the Als’ sixth-round (48th overall) draft choice in 2015. There was immediate speculation on social media Lawlor could resurface with the Blue Bombers, who lost centre Jeff Keeping to injury against Montreal and are seeking Canadian depth up front.
hzurkowsky@postmedia.com
twitter.com/HerbZurkowsky1
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
