Montreal Alouettes QB situation in limbo after loss to Argonauts, Cody Fajardo acknowledges

MONTREAL — Cody Fajardo is hungry to lead the Montreal Alouettes back to the Gray Cup next year.

However, the veteran quarterback could not confirm that general manager Danny Maciocia would choose him as the starter for next season over backup Davis Alexander.

“There are a lot of things that have to get done this offseason,” Fajardo said Monday after his exit interview with the Alouettes general manager. “You have a, let’s call it an older quarterback, and you have a young quarterback, and you have a young quarterback who played well.

“We’ve had our conversations. No decisions have been made yet and many things could happen in the coming days.”

Reigning champion Alouettes cleaned out their lockers after losing 30-28 at home to the Toronto Argonauts in the CFL’s East Division final on Saturday.

Fajardo, last year’s Gray Cup MVP, will be 33 when training camp begins next season.

Meanwhile, Alexander turned 26 last month and impressed with his stellar play this season as Fajardo missed time with a hamstring injury.

The Alouettes have some decisions to make. While Fajardo is under contract until next year, Alexander could test free agency.

Based on past experience, Fajardo doesn’t want to be put in a situation where he isn’t the bona fide No. 1.

“You want to be on a team where you know you’re the guy and you don’t feel like if you play bad in one game, all of a sudden you’re not going to be that guy anymore,” Fajardo said. said: “I’ve been a part of that situation, in my last year (with the Saskatchewan Roughriders), and it’s extremely difficult for anyone to play in that situation where you feel like you’re afraid to make a mistake to make.”

This season’s BC Lions were a good example of this. QB Vernon Adams Jr. said the team’s decision to stick with Canadian Nathan Rourke may have caused “a little bit” of division in the Lions locker room.

“Sometimes having two incredibly talented quarterbacks isn’t a good thing because it divides people. It divides the fans. It divides the guys in your locker room. It divides coaches. Sometimes that’s not the best formula,” Fajardo said. “I have every confidence in coach (Jason) Maas and in Danny and them making the right decision, whatever decision that means.”

Fajardo threw for 3,105 yards, 16 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 14 games this season. He led the league with a 73.6 completion percentage among quarterbacks with at least 50 attempts.

In the East finals, he went 27-for-42 with 330 yards and three touchdowns, but also fumbled the ball and threw two interceptions. The first bounced out of Walter Fletcher’s hands, the other came on a possible two-point conversion.

But Fajardo still believes he still has a lot to give.

“I feel like I’m playing the best ball of my career, even though people might think otherwise,” he said. “A lot of things could change in the CFL in the future, but I’m glad I’ll at least get another chance to right your wrongs next year.

“I expressed my feelings (to management) about how I want to be the quarterback for this organization, and how I feel I can still play at a talented level enough to win us a Gray Cup and make me to qualify for that ninth Gray Cup.”

Fajardo got off to a hot start before suffering his injury early in Week 6 against Toronto, which ultimately opened the door for Alexander.

Alexander, who started the season as Montreal’s third stringer, replaced Caleb Evans off the bench against Saskatchewan on July 25 before leading the Alouettes to a 20-16 comeback victory.

“I will always believe in myself,” Alexander said. “I could have told you I would have a great year if I just had the chance.”

Alexander then started with three straight wins and won again behind center in week 19 when Fajardo was absent due to the birth of his second son.

The Portland State product went 105-for-151 for 1,347 passing yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed for 166 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries.

Is he willing to come back to Montreal as a backup?

“It’ll just depend on every other situation, right? Just see what the competition looks like,” he said. “But I mean, I love it here. I love the coaches, I love the organization, but of course it’s still true.” to give meaning to me and my family and all that.

“Maybe it works that way if I’m not the starter and I come back, I’m not sure. I’m not going to rule anything out.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 11, 2024.