5 newcomers to watch in 2026 preseason finale
The Montreal Alouettes will wrap up their preseason on Friday night at TD Place in Ottawa. The game might not mean anything in the standings, but it will be the most important game some of these players ever play. It’s make it or break it for their professional football careers.
Here are five newcomers who are battling for a roster spot that you should keep your eye on.
#9 – Anthony Brown – Quarterback
Brown didn’t play in the first preseason game due to injury, but he’s been back on the field since Monday. The battle to be the third-string quarterback behind Davis Alexander and Dustin Crum is far from over, and Brown has a legitimate opportunity to win that gig with a strong performance in the Nation’s Capital.
#25 – Austin Watkins – Receiver
Watkins has good hands and size. Not only can the 6-foot-2, 210-pounder make plays with the ball in his hands, but he’s also shown an ability to block. The five starting receivers appear to be locked into place, but there is always room for an extra American or two to stick around. The competition between the import newcomers is stiff, but Watkins has played himself into the mix.
#29 – Thakarius Keyes – Defensive Back
It seems unlikely that a CFL “rookie” will unseat one of the veterans in the secondary to start the season, but there are still jobs to be won in the defensive backfield. Keyes is a pro football veteran with good size and length (6-foot-1, 200 pounds). The pro football veteran was drafted in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. He’s also had stops with the Colts, Patriots, Bears, Texans (twice), Falcons, Ravens, Browns, San Antonio Brahman (UFL) and now the Alouettes. He finished second on the team in tackles (3) in the preseason opener.
#35 – Shomari Lawrence – Running back
All four running backs looked solid in the preseason opener including Lawrence, who ran for 31 yards and a touchdown on just five carries. Stevie Scott III and Travis Theis will play key roles in the offence this year, but having a strong option waiting in the wings isn’t a bad idea in case injuries strike. We know Lawrence can run the ball, but if he’s able to continue to show that he’s a willing blocker in pass-protection, he could legitimately earn a practice roster spot.
#99 – Decarius Hawthorne – Defensive Tackle
Hawthorne has had a good camp and he managed to create a little bit of havoc in last week’s preseason game. The Alouettes are returning just two defensive tackles from last year’s team (Mustafa Johnson and Kori Roberson Jr.), so there could be an opening for at least one American to join the rotation. Hawthorne was the only Alouettes defender credited with a tackle for loss last week.
