Matthew Shiltz will be under center Friday night when the Hamilton Tiger-Cats play their home opener against the Montreal Alouettes.

Shiltz replaces veteran quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, who sustained a lower-body injury during the fourth quarter of the Tiger-Cats’ 32-14 loss to the Toronto Argonauts on Sunday.

“You’re never excited for any player to get injured … but they are part of the game,” Hamilton coach Orlondo Steinauer said. “It happens to be at the most critical part (QB position), but this is why signing someone like Matt was so important for us in the offseason.”

Shiltz came on in relief Sunday and completed 13 of 14 passes for 115 yards and a touchdown. The Butler product played in 17 games last season with the Tiger-Cats after spending four seasons with the Alouettes.

James Butler rushed for a touchdown in his second straight game this season for Hamilton (0-2).

Montreal (1-0) has been idle since its season-opening 19-12 victory against Ottawa on June 10.

William Stanback, who led the CFL in rushing in 2021, totaled 88 yards (42 rushing, 46 receiving) in his first regular-season game since sustaining a fractured ankle in the 2022 opener.

“We’re going to continue to run the ball,” Alouettes coach Jason Maas said, per the Montreal Gazette. “We want to control the line and get Stanback going. We have to be productive with our run game and stick with it, no matter what.”

Cody Fajardo completed 14 of 21 passes for 261 yards and rushed for a touchdown for Montreal against the Redblacks.

Austin Mack reeled in a 61-yard heave from Fajardo on the first pass of the game and finished with four catches for 120 yards. Mack’s performance was a welcome one for the Alouettes, who have receivers Greg Ellingson, Tyson Philpot and Reggie White Jr. on the six-game injured list.

–Field Level Media