Alouettes QB Bethel-Thompson embraces 'daunting challenge' that lies ahead

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McLeod Bethel-Thompson had no illusions when he was traded to the Alouettes from Edmonton last winter.

The veteran quarterback arrived in Montreal specifically to back up starter Davis Alexander. He might play a game or two, but Bethel-Thompson was with the Als as an insurance policy.

One-third into the CFL regular season, those plans have gone awry.

Bethel-Thompson has already played two games, at Hamilton and against B.C., while Alexander recovered from a hamstring injury. But Alexander reinjured his left leg late against Toronto last Thursday while scoring the winning touchdown and has been placed on the six-game injured list.

While a player can be removed from that list at any time — his salary doesn’t count against the cap in the meantime — the Als will be Bethel-Thompson’s team for the foreseeable future. And they’re heading into the most difficult stretch of their schedule beginning Thursday, when Montreal meets Calgary at McMahon Stadium (9 p.m., TSN1, TSN3, TSN4, TSN5, RDS, TSN Radio-690, 98.5 FM).

The Stampeders (5-1) have the league’s best record and are coming off road wins at Saskatchewan and Winnipeg. Calgary has defeated Winnipeg twice this season and is averaging 30.2 points scored, while allowing a league-low 18.5. Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., a former Alouette, has passed for 1,720 yards and eight touchdowns, although he has been intercepted six times. The Stamps have continued winning despite the absence of injured receiver Reggie Begelton, who caught 92 passes for 1,150 yards last season while scoring four touchdowns. He had three 100-yard games.

While the Als are 4-2, their next four games after Calgary are against the Roughriders, Edmonton, at B.C. and against Winnipeg before a bye week in the schedule.

“Sports always is a little bit more than you think you’re ready for (but) I love it,” Bethel-Thompson said Tuesday after a practice at Stade Hébert. “I love the challenge, the opportunity. I couldn’t ask for a better week, going into a really good team’s house and to get back in the saddle. I’m excited for the opportunity. I’m excited to do it for this team.

“Every lesson you learn, you’re better prepared each week,” added the 37-year-old, who spent five seasons with Toronto and led the Argonauts to the 2022 Grey Cup.

While Bethel-Thompson passed for an impressive 3,748 yards and 24 touchdowns with the Elks last season, the team was 3-10 during his starts, and he was eventually replaced by Canadian Tre Ford.

Bethel-Thompson is 0-2 with Montreal. He completed 24 of 41 passes for 203 yards against Hamilton with one touchdown. But he was intercepted twice and fumbled once into the Als’ end zone that was recovered for a touchdown. He likely played well enough against the Lions to win. Bethel-Thompson was good on 15 of 23 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns. A potential third score was dropped by receiver Charleston Rambo.

“It’s an awesome offence,” Bethel-Thompson said. “It’s very dynamic and very multiple. It’s varied and full of motions, alignments and changes. It’s full of every type of read you could possibly have. Full of every type of high-low, inside-out. It’s everything that is an offence — and especially a CFL offence that has motion and 12 people. It’s really a fun challenge. Every week is mental gymnastics and I really enjoy it.

“That’s what’s so great about it. It feels new,” he added. “It’s a new team, a new opportunity, a new experience and a new way to feel how urgent this game is for this team at this time. It lost one of its good players, one of its emotional leaders. How can I step up to that opportunity and be the right guy for this team in this moment? It’s a daunting challenge and one I look forward to. It’s very urgent (for himself). I want this one probably more than anybody else on this team. I haven’t had a win as the starting quarterback with this team yet.”

For the second consecutive week, the Als will be missing Canadian receiver Tyson Philpot (hamstring). Return-specialist James Letcher Jr. (hand) will be replaced by Lincoln Victor, who attended training camp with Ottawa and will be making his CFL debut. Cornerback Lorenzo Burns (shoulder) returns, but linebacker Najee Murray (hamstring) is listed as a game-time decision.

Head coach Jason Maas, a former CFL quarterback, knows it’s paramount that Bethel-Thompson displays improvement.

“Quarterbacking is very simple. It comes down to decision-making,” he said. “When he’s in there, no matter how many reps he has had, he has to make great decisions each and every play, throw the ball accordingly, make the reads accordingly and lead the offence. That’s all he has to do. He doesn’t have to do anything special.

“Do I expect him to be better? Absolutely, just because of the practice and the opportunities he has been given. But our whole team has to be better. If just he gets better and nobody else, we’re not going to be as good.”