Can QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson win two straight for the Alouettes?

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A young quarterback might be permitted to lose three straight games because he’s experiencing growing pains while continuing to learn the CFL and its intricacies.

No such luxury exists for a 37-year-old veteran — especially McLeod Bethel-Thompson, who’s with a new team and must build confidence with his Alouettes teammates and management.

Bethel-Thompson won a Grey Cup with Toronto in 2022, but when he led Montreal to a comeback victory last Thursday at Calgary, it might have been among the most important triumphs of his CFL career.

Now, he must attempt to do it again Saturday night, when the Als host Saskatchewan at Molson Stadium (7 p.m., TSN1, TSN3, RDS, TSN Radio-690, 98.5 FM). The Roughriders (6-1) have the league’s best record. Both Saskatchewan and Montreal (5-2) are on two-game winning streaks, while the visitors have yet to lose on the road this season in three games.

“It felt really good to be part of a winning effort and get over that hump,” Bethel-Thompson said. “Where I’m at in my life, I’m so proud of the work I’m doing, on and off the field. It shows what I’m doing is paying off and I can still do it at a high level. The exciting part is there’s more to get better at. It’s only going to be up from here. I want to be the best quarterback I can be for this team.”

Following losses at Hamilton and against B.C., Bethel-Thompson completed 30 of 40 passes for 280 yards and one touchdown against the Stampeders. In three games, he has thrown for 752 yards and four touchdowns while being intercepted three times. And he’ll remain the Alouettes’ starter for the immediate future with Davis Alexander remaining on the six-game injured list while recovering from a pulled hamstring.

“Do I expect to go out there and lose two games in a row? Not at all,” said Bethel-Thompson, acquired from Edmonton last December in a trade for Cody Fajardo. “Do I expect to play at that level? No. I know what my expectations are. I don’t worry about what anybody else says. I’ve been around long enough. There’s so much noise. The only noise that matters is the noise you make within your own body.”

While the confidence Jason Maas has displayed in Bethel-Thompson never has wavered, the Als’ head coach — a former CFL quarterback — realizes that cacophony would have reached a crescendo had Montreal’s second-string pivot not defeated Calgary. That’s simply the nature of the beast.

“I think it’s just confidence and growth,” Maas said. “You could see it in practice this week. The way he’s commanding the huddle. The way the ball is coming out. The communication with everybody. You could just tell it was a breath of fresh air for him … a monkey off his back, whatever you want to call it. It was.

“Quarterbacks put a lot of stress and undo pressure on themselves to perform. All eyes are on them. Quarterbacks get a lot of credit. They get a lot of blame, too. And it weighs on you. But he’s a strong individual — mentally and physically. I’m glad to see him get the win as a starter, but we knew that would happen at some point.”

Offensively, the Alouettes will be missing import receiver Austin Mack, who turned his ankle late against Calgary. He’ll be replaced by Alexander Hollins, who spent three seasons with B.C. and has 16 touchdowns in 38 career games. Hollins, 6-feet and 165 pounds, gained 1,173 yards in 2023.

Canadian rookie Hakeem Harris gets his first career start for the injured Tyson Philpot.

With James Letcher Jr. (hand) sidelined, Montreal will try Tyjon Lindsey as its return-specialist this game. That role last week was filled by Lincoln Victor. But he fumbled twice against Calgary and, although neither resulted in a turnover, he was replaced by receiver Tyler Snead. Victor subsequently was released this week.

Defensively, the game marks the return of veteran rush-end Shawn Lemon following a year-long CFL-imposed suspension. Lemon has spent the last two weeks practising after being reinstated by the league for wagering on games in 2021, while with Calgary. He then served an additional two-game suspension following a positive test for the banned substance phentermine — an appetite suppressant.

“It means a lot to be back in the stadium,” Lemon said. “It’s not about me. It’s about the Alouettes getting a win. It’s about whatever I can do to help this team get a win.

”The clip is full. I’m ready to go.”