Montreal Alouettes quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. makes no bones about it: he's nervous about playing his first football game in nearly eight months.
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The 28-year-old athlete will automatically play part of the preseason game against the Ottawa Redblacks this Friday at Percival-Molson Stadium. The last meeting of the American dates back to the 10th week of activities of the last season.
"I haven't played football since October and I got injured, that's why I feel a certain nervousness," said the man whose left shoulder injury ended his 2021 campaign prematurely.
"I'm still excited to go out there and do my best. I want to put on a good show for our fans.”
Always in competition
Adams Jr. also knows that the game against the Rouge et Noir will be an opportunity to prove that he deserves to be the Alouettes' starting quarterback this year. Since the start of training camp, the Pasadena native has been competing against veteran Trevor Harris.
The latter earned points with his performance in last Saturday's preseason game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
“Trevor played well and it was great to see that. Now Vernon is going to play next week and we'll see then,” head coach Khari Jones said after the game against the Cats.
Asked about this, Adams Jr. preferred to discuss his own performance.
"I feel like I'm getting better every day," he said. I want to continue this momentum and that's it. I try very hard. I can't do more."
It remains to be seen whether Adams Jr.'s efforts will materialize on the pitch on Friday night and whether he will be able to end the debate over who will lead the Sparrows' offense this season.
The flu is coming
In addition, the Alouettes were forced to cancel practice scheduled for Wednesday because several players had flu symptoms.
A club spokesperson was reassuring by explaining that it was not COVID-19 and that all affected footballers tested negative for the virus.
The “Als” must resume action this Thursday, for one last time in Trois-Rivières. They will be back in Montreal the next day to play a second and final preseason game before the start of the 2022 regular season.
