Montreal Alouettes Trim Roster: Former NFL Quarterback E.J. Perry Among Major Training Camp Cuts
The Montreal Alouettes are cleaning house as they carve out their final 2026 roster. In a sweeping series of training camp cuts announced Wednesday, the organization released American quarterback E.J. Perry, signaling a shift in the team’s offensive direction as they prepare for the upcoming Canadian Football League (CFL) season.
Perry, a 27-year-old with a professional pedigree stretching across three different American leagues, had been fighting for a permanent spot in the Montreal rotation since joining the organization last October. Despite his experience, Perry never saw action in an official CFL game, spending the conclusion of the 2025 season on the practice squad before the team decided to move in a different direction this week.
A Journey Through the American Gridiron
For those following the quarterback carousel, Perry’s career serves as a case study in the modern professional football grind. A standout at Brown University, where he earned two All-Ivy First Team selections, Perry entered the professional ranks with significant buzz following the 2022 NFL Draft.
His NFL tenure saw him spend time with both the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Houston Texans. While he managed to crack those rosters during the preseason and developmental phases, he never appeared in an NFL regular-season game. This “almost” status often drives athletes toward alternative leagues to prove their viability as starters—a path Perry took aggressively.
Perry found his most consistent success in the USFL with the Michigan Panthers. Over five starts, he displayed the mobility that made him a collegiate threat, racking up 785 passing yards, three touchdowns, and four interceptions, while adding 151 rushing yards and four scores on the ground. However, the transition to the UFL in 2025 with the Memphis Showboats was far more turbulent. Perry struggled to find a rhythm, posting a 0-4 record as a starter with only two touchdown passes against five interceptions.
For the Alouettes, the decision to cut a former NFL quarterback is rarely about raw talent and more about the specific demands of the CFL game—which features a wider field, three downs, and a level of motion that requires a very specific type of cerebral processing at the line of scrimmage.
The Broader Roster Purge
Perry was not the only casualty of Wednesday’s cuts. The Alouettes utilized this round of releases to address depth across the entire roster, letting go of a mix of American imports and Canadian nationals. The cuts were particularly heavy in the offensive skill positions, suggesting the coaching staff is narrowing its focus on a specific core of playmakers.
Among the most notable departures was quarterback Dresser Winn, whose release alongside Perry leaves the Alouettes’ quarterback room significantly leaner. The team also parted ways with several key depth pieces, including running back Jeffery Pittman and wide receivers Isaac Gaillardetz and Jacoby Matthews.
To keep things clear for the fans tracking the roster, here is the full breakdown of the players released during this training camp window:
| Position | Player(s) Released |
|---|---|
| Quarterback | E.J. Perry, Dresser Winn |
| Running Back | Jeffery Pittman |
| Wide Receiver | Isaac Gaillardetz, Jacoby Matthews |
| Tight End | Landen King |
| Offensive Line | Cannon Panfiloff |
| Defense | Wesley Neal Jr., Kahzir Brown, Terrence Spence |
The Rookie Setback: Harrison Daley
While most of the news centered on the cuts, there was a troubling development regarding the team’s 2026 draft class. Harrison Daley, a defensive back from the University of Windsor, has been placed on the suspended players list. Daley was a fifth-round selection in the CFL Draft, and his sudden absence from the active roster is a blow to the team’s secondary depth.
Suspensions for rookies often stem from a variety of league-mandated compliance issues or personal conduct matters, though the Alouettes have not provided specific details regarding the nature of Daley’s suspension. For a rookie fighting for a roster spot, being placed on the suspended list during training camp is a precarious position that often stalls developmental momentum.
What In other words for Montreal
From a tactical standpoint, these moves suggest the Alouettes are confident in their current starting lineup and are no longer looking for “wildcard” options at quarterback. By releasing Perry and Winn, the team is essentially betting on their established signal-callers to handle the pressure of the 2026 campaign.
The aggressive nature of these cuts—removing nearly a dozen players in one swoop—indicates that the front office is prioritizing chemistry and cohesive unit play over individual versatility. In the CFL, where roster spots are limited and the “import” ratio is strictly monitored, every cut is a calculated risk.
For E.J. Perry, the road likely leads back to the American spring leagues or another attempt at an NFL camp. At 27, he remains in his physical prime, but the lack of official game film in the CFL makes him a speculative asset for other teams.
The Montreal Alouettes will now shift their focus toward final refinements as they move closer to the regular season. Fans can expect further minor adjustments to the practice roster in the coming weeks as the team finalizes its game-day depth chart.
Next Checkpoint: The Alouettes are expected to announce their final active roster following the conclusion of the current training camp phase. Stay tuned to official team channels for the final 45-man list.
Do you think the Alouettes made the right call letting Perry go, or did they miss an opportunity for a dynamic dual-threat QB? Let us know in the comments below.
