ADAMS NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK, ALS TO START SCHILTZ IN WEEK 16

Montreal quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., Alouettes receiver Jake Wieneke and Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Andrew Harris are the CFL’s top performers for Week 15.

All three played in the Alouettes’ 38-37 win over the Bombers on Saturday in Montreal.

Adams led the Alouettes on a franchise record 24-point comeback, completing 27-of-43 passes for a career-high 488 yards and four touchdowns. Adams also rushed for a major.

However, Adams was suspended one game on Monday for a helmet-swinging incident during the game against Winnipeg.

Wieneke had eight catches for 134 yards, including the game-tying touchdown reception with 11 seconds left.

Harris had 188 yards from scrimmage in his first game back after serving a two-game suspension for a positive drug test.

The Winnipeg native leads the league with 984 rushing yards.

MONTREAL – Matt Shiltz will replace the suspended Vernon Adams Jr. as starting quarterback for the Montreal Alouettes in the team’s next game.

Shiltz gets the call on Saturday in B.C., against the Lions (3-10) after Adams was given a one-game suspension for a helmet-swinging incident during a win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last weekend.

“I’m just going to go out there and do everything I can to move the ball down the field, protect the field and hopefully come out on top,” Shiltz said.

Adams has led the surging Als (7-5) to four wins in their past five games, including a 24-point comeback in Montreal’s 38-37 victory over Winnipeg.

Adams said on Tuesday he would not appeal the suspension, handed down for what the CFL called a “dangerous and reckless act” in which the Alouettes quarterback swung a helmet at Blue Bombers linebacker Adam Bighill.

Adams said he messaged Bighill to apologize for the incident after the game.

“He accepted my apology and he understands the competition and everything. At this point, it’s water under the bridge,” said Adams, who was named the CFL’s top performer for Week 15. “We’re competitors. When I see him again, we’re going to compete and have a good time.”

Adams said he also apologized to his own team.

“It was a big mistake on his part,” Als head coach Khari Jones said. “I think he knows that, he realizes it. It kind of put us as a team in a precarious spot, but we’ll be OK. These guys rally together really well. I have all the faith in the world in Matt and I’m excited to see him get out there and play.”

Saturday’s game will be Shiltz’s first start of the season and second of his career. He is 11-for-16 passing for 107 yards this season in two games in relief roles.

The 26-year-old Butler graduate joined the Alouettes in 2017.

(Canadian Press/Photo: CFL.ca)