Scott III Back on Field
Alouettes Tailback Stevie Scott III Returns Against Ottawa After Hamstring Injury
Montreal Alouettes tailback Stevie Scott III is set to return to the lineup Sunday against the Ottawa Redblacks, ending a three-game absence due to a hamstring injury, according to Montreal Gazette. The 6-foot-2, 231-pound running back missed Montreal's first three games of 2026, leaving the team ranked last in the CFL with just 65.5 rushing yards per game.
The Alouettes enter Week 4 at 2-1, having scored a league-high 32 points per game through the air. But the offense has leaned almost entirely on quarterback Davis Alexander, who has thrown for 1,133 yards without a single interception. Scott III's return offers the team a much-needed reset on the ground, Ottawa Citizen reports.
Scott III Brings the Ground Game Back
Scott III spent much of his rookie season on Montreal's practice roster before breaking through in the 2025 playoffs. Calgary Herald notes he rushed 86 times for 418 yards last season, earning a reputation as a "wrecking ball" in short-yardage situations. Head coach Jason Maas released veteran Walter Fletcher in 2025 specifically because Scott III outperformed him in pass blocking and hard-yards carries.
In Scott III's absence, backups Travis Theis and Shomari Lawrence combined for just 223 rushing yards over three games. That production was far from enough to keep defenses honest. Scott III said of his wait: "Football comes with a lot of adversity... I'm just waiting for my turn and my time," per Edmonton Journal.
Alexander's Historic Streak Fuels a Fragile Offense
Davis Alexander has been remarkable through three games. He has completed 85 of 124 passes for 1,133 yards and five touchdowns. Montreal Gazette reports he is one of only three CFL starting quarterbacks yet to throw an interception this season. His active streak now stands at 224 consecutive pass attempts without a pick, the longest in the league.
But the offense has limits. With teams no longer needing to stop the run, Alexander has faced constant pressure. Fantasy analysts at RotoWire warn that Scott III's return could actually cut into Alexander's rushing touchdowns in the red zone. Still, the bigger picture is clear: a balanced attack lowers the sack risk and makes the offense far harder to stop.
Cornerback Injuries Cloud Montreal's Defense
Montreal's defense is giving up 29.7 points per game, a troubling number heading into Week 4. Things got worse in Week 3. Cornerbacks Kabion Ento and Lorenzo Burns both left the Edmonton loss with injuries — Ento with a hamstring and Burns with a head injury, The Whig reports. The official CFL injury report listed both as "Out" for Week 4 as of June 22.
However, both players are pushing to play against Ottawa, according to Ottawa Citizen. If they cannot go at full strength, Montreal's secondary will be exposed. Ottawa, despite sitting at 0-2, did beat Montreal 27-15 in the preseason and views this game as a chance to prove its run-stop unit has improved under new leadership.
Ottawa Enters as Heavy Underdogs at Home
The Redblacks are winless at 0-2 and come off what analysts at Edmonton Journal called a blowout performance that raised serious questions about their ability to compete in the East Division. Montreal is favored by 8.5 points. Ottawa quarterback Dru Brown is also listed as questionable, adding another layer of uncertainty for the home side.
For Montreal, a win is considered mandatory. The Toronto Argonauts are surging in the East, and dropping two straight would put the Alouettes under real pressure. Scott III's return, even at a limited snap count, gives the team a physical dimension it has sorely missed. The Whig notes the matchup sets up as Montreal's clearest path to rebalancing an offense that has gone too heavily air-dependent through the season's first month.
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