The hidden reason why Montreal Alouettes signed the 27-year-old quarterback E.J. Perry

Montreal Alouettes Sign Five Americans for 2026 Season, Including QB EJ Perry

The Montreal Alouettes have added five American players to their roster for the 2026 season, highlighted by quarterback EJ Perry.

The six-foot-two, 210-pound passer joined Montreal in October and finished the 2025 season on the practice roster. Perry previously spent time with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans after going undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft, though he never appeared in a regular-season game.

Perry played collegiately at Brown University, where he started 18 of 21 games and was twice named first-team All-Ivy League, throwing for 5,981 yards, 45 touchdowns, and 27 interceptions. He also spent time in alternative pro leagues, including the USFL’s Michigan Panthers and the Memphis Showboats, compiling modest passing and rushing stats while gaining valuable experience.

Other Americans joining the Alouettes include:

• Westley Neal (DL): A 6’0”, 315-pound defensive tackle from the University of Rhode Island. Neal earned first-team all-conference honours in 2024, recording 121 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, an interception, and three blocked kicks over four college seasons.

• R.J. Perry (OL): The six-foot-six, 330-pound lineman played at Tennessee, starting 20 games after switching from defensive line as a freshman.

• Giles Jackson (WR): The 5’8”, 187-pound speedster transferred from Michigan to Washington, finishing his senior year with 85 receptions for 893 yards and seven touchdowns. Over his college career, he logged 159 catches for 1,723 yards, 10 touchdowns, plus contributions on rushing and kickoff returns. Jackson had a brief stint with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent.

• Terrence Spence (DB): The six-foot-two, 200-pound cornerback transferred to James Madison University as a senior, earning second-team All-American honours with 38 tackles, seven pass breakups, five interceptions, a forced fumble, and two blocked kicks. He previously played four seasons at Holy Cross, recording 84 tackles, 22 pass breakups, four interceptions, and six blocked kicks.

The Alouettes finished second in the East Division in 2025 with a 10-8 record, defeating the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the East Final before losing the 112th Grey Cup to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. During the season, Davis Alexanderwent 7-0 as a starter but missed 11 games with a hamstring injury. Montreal ranked eighth in net offence, first in net defence, and third in turnover differential (+8). Stevie Scott III led the team in rushing with 418 yards, Tyler Snead led receiving with 1,129 yards, and Darnell Sankey led in tackles with 103. The Alouettes averaged 21,132 fans per game, a slight 0.8% decrease from 2024.