By The Canadian Press

Alouettes put trust in QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson amid five-game slide

Sep 9, 2025 | 7:46 AM

MONTREAL — The Montreal Alouettes are changing quarterbacks again, only this time it’s a familiar face.

McLeod Bethel-Thompson is back after missing three games with an elbow injury since losing 23-22 to Edmonton on Aug. 8.

And if everything goes to plan between now and Saturday, the veteran pivot will start when the slumping Alouettes visit the CFL-leading Saskatchewan Roughriders.

“That’s the expectation,” head coach Jason Maas said. “I think we’re ready to go.”

Bethel-Thompson was removed from the six-game injured list and took first-team reps during practice Tuesday at Stade Hébert.

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The 37-year-old American began the season as Montreal’s backup after Edmonton dealt him to the Alouettes in an off-season swap for Cody Fajardo, but took over under centre when franchise QB Davis Alexander went down with a hamstring injury.

Viewed as a solid Plan B because of his CFL pedigree — including a Grey Cup championship as a starter with Toronto in 2022 — Bethel-Thompson hasn’t found much success in Montreal.

In five starts, he has a 1-4 record this season, throwing for 957 yards on 100-for-153 passing (65.4 per cent) with four touchdowns and five interceptions.

Fourth-stringer James Morgan threw for one touchdown and three interceptions as the starter in Montreal’s last two games, capped by a 26-9 blowout to Hamilton that stretched the team’s losing skid to five.

Amid the quarterback chaos — third-stringer Caleb Evans is also out for the season with a knee injury — the Alouettes also signed Cameron Dukes and Shea Patterson in recent weeks.

But for now, Montreal is banking on Bethel-Thompson’s experience.

“We have six quarterbacks in the locker room right now, and there are some that don’t have a ton of experience,” general manager Danny Maciocia said. “During this time of the year when you need that experience and to surround yourself with players who’ve played in those situations, who’ve won games, there aren’t many who’ve done it.”

Maas added that while Bethel-Thompson’s record isn’t stellar, he’s the only Alouettes quarterback besides Alexander to win a game this season, and two of his losses were by a single point.

“He’s won for us, he’s a veteran in the league,” Maas said. “That veteran presence, you don’t buy, and I think he has it. He was dealing with some stuff and playing at the same time, and obviously we sat him for a reason.”

Maciocia and Maas also pushed back at the notion Montreal is rushing him back because they’re out of answers.

“Over the last three games, if James (Morgan) would’ve went out and lit it up, he still would be back,” Maas said of Bethel-Thompson. “It’s just now we’d be evaluating a little bit differently, but the fact of the matter is that didn’t happen. And Bethel is healthy, so he’s been cleared to play, so obviously we’re going to always go with the best option for us.”

Bethel-Thompson’s recovery included an injection in his right elbow, the team confirmed, and weeks of rehab, but he called the layoff “a good time to reset.”

He also insists the Alouettes remain in position to turn things around, even if it looks grim from the outside.

“We’ve got a great team, we’ve got great talent. We have as good a shot as anybody, and we hold our own destiny in our hands down the stretch,” he said. “What better opportunity than this? So if this is the path that gets us to where we want to go, what a beautiful path to walk.”

The wait for Alexander, meanwhile, continues.

Montreal has a 1-7 record without Alexander, who is undefeated in all eight of his starts in the CFL.

The 26-year-old practised in a limited capacity Tuesday, subbing in for the occasional play and running sprints on the sideline, but Maciocia said he won’t be an option this week — and likely not next week either.

The GM added there’s a “strong possibility” Montreal gives Alexander an extra week to recover once doctors give him the green light.

“The moment we put Davis in the lineup, we want to have him for the rest of the season,” Maciocia said. “We’re talking about Davis almost every day, at least three or four times a week. Was the option to play this week on the table? No, but it’s getting better.”

After visiting Saskatchewan (10-2), Montreal hosts Toronto in a game that could have major playoff implications, with the Argonauts (4-8) breathing down the Alouettes’ neck for second place in the East Division.

In other news Tuesday, running back Sean Thomas Erlington has been moved to the six-game injured list. The 33-year-old suffered an upper-body injury against Hamilton last weekend.

To help fill the backfield, the Alouettes signed American running back Eno Benjamin, who was released last week by Calgary.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 9, 2025.

Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press