Montreal Alouettes reverse course, start QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson for regular-season finale
Photo courtesy: Bob Butrym/RFB Sport Photography
It appears that the Montreal Alouettes were not entirely truthful regarding their quarterback plans for the regular-season finale.
After stating that Davis Alexander would get the start all week, the team announced via social media an hour before kickoff on Saturday that it would instead be McLeod Bethel-Thompson taking the field in Winnipeg.
On Thursday, head coach Jason Maas was adamant that Alexander would play regardless of whether the game had playoff implications.
“I’ve said this before: he isn’t a five-year vet in terms of playing five straight seasons. He needs to play, and he needs to play a lot —especially against an opponent we may face in the playoffs.”
After the Hamilton Tiger-Cats beat the Ottawa Redblacks on Friday to clinch first place in the East Division and lock Montreal into second, it seems Maas had a change of heart.
Alexander has only started seven games this season — his first as the Alouettes’ franchise quarterback. The 27-year-old missed significant time with a hamstring injury on two separate stretches and has suffered minor injury scares in each of the past two games after taking hits to the head and elbow.
The Gig Harbour, Wash., native remains undefeated in 11 career CFL starts. He has completed 158-of-218 passes for 2,024 yards, 10 touchdowns, and three interceptions this season, while rushing for 110 yards and a score.
Bethel-Thompson has started seven games this season, going 3-4 at the helm. The 37-year-old has completed 138-of-209 passes for 1,564 yards, nine touchdowns, and eight interceptions, while rushing for 62 yards.
The Montreal Alouettes (10-7) will kick off against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (9-8) at 3:00 p.m. EDT from Princess Auto Stadium. The Alouettes are coming off back-to-back wins over the Ottawa Redblacks, while the Blue Bombers got an ugly win over the depleted Saskatchewan Roughriders.
The weather forecast in Winnipeg calls for a high of 14 degrees with sunny conditions. The game will be broadcast on TSN, RDS, and CTV in Canada and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune in on TSN 690 in Montreal and 680 CJOB in Winnipeg.
