Maas Tamps Alarm After Kennedy III-Sutton Collision — Alouettes De Montréal
At alouettes de montréal camp, Robert Kennedy III and Wesley Sutton collided violently during a coverage drill at the PEPS de l’Université Laval on Tuesday. The second practice session of the day ended with both defensive backs on the ground, but Jason Maas said the team expected them back at practice.
Maas called it "C’est un jeu malheureux avec deux gars qui luttent pour le même ballon" and said the play came on a tight pass from Davis Alexander. He added that the two players had more fear than harm and would likely only be dealing with aches and pains.
Jason Maas on the collision
The coach’s description fit the way the play unfolded. "Nos gars donnent tout à l’entraînement; ils imitent ce qui se passe en situation de match. On veut que nos gars soient compétitifs. […] Nos routes offensives sont très près l’une de l’autre sur ce jeu. Forcément, les demis défensifs seront appelés à être très près l’un de l’autre. La fenêtre d’exécution était très mince pour Davis, qui a lancé toute une passe. C’est ce qui a entraîné cette collision."
That is the part that turned a routine camp rep into a scary one. Kennedy III and Sutton were both fighting for the same ball, and the ball arrived in a window so tight that the coverage drill ended with contact instead of a clean completion.
Two receiver jobs in play
The collision happened inside a camp where jobs are still up for grabs. Maas said Alexander Hollins and Jerreth Sterns appeared to be ahead of the other receivers for two available starting receiver jobs.
Hollins brings four seasons of CFL experience, including 1,173 receiving yards and 937 receiving yards in his last two years with the BC Lions. Last year, he played five games and caught eight passes for 163 yards. Sterns has played three CFL seasons, two with Saskatchewan and the last with Winnipeg, where his best year produced 48 catches, 530 yards and four touchdowns.
Hollins, Sterns, and the opening
Maas said, "Je pense que c’est juste de dire que ces deux gars-là sont en avance sur les autres". He pointed to their experience and to the way both receivers have handled camp so far, saying they have taken advantage of their chances.
Sterns joined the Alouettes on February 10, the same day the Winnipeg Blue Bombers released him. That move has already pushed him into a meaningful spot in the battle for two receiver roles, while Kennedy III and Sutton left Tuesday’s session with soreness instead of a worse outcome.
For Montreal, the immediate takeaway is simple: the collision stopped practice, but Maas expects both defensive backs to be back on the field. The bigger roster fight remains on offense, where the receiver race has already narrowed around Hollins and Sterns.
