McLeod Bethel-Thompson in spotlight as Alouettes take on Stampeders
Veteran McLeod Bethel-Thompson will be back behind center when the Montreal Alouettes visit the Calgary Stampeders on Thursday night.
Bethel-Thompson, 37, will be running the Alouettes (4-2) after starter Davis Alexander was placed on the six-game injured list due to a lingering hamstring problem.
Alexander reaggravated the injury during last week's 26-25 comeback victory over the Toronto Argonauts. He missed games in Weeks 4 and 5 due to the same injury and returned to the field after a bye in Week 6.
Bethel-Thompson started the two games Alexander missed and Montreal lost both. He has passed for 472 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions this season.
The two-time Grey Cup champion (one as a starter) with Toronto is ready for the lengthy starting role and vowed to limit the mistakes he made in his two recent starts.
'I expect to play well every time I'm on the field,' Bethel-Thompson told reporters. 'I expect to execute 100 percent.
'There were four or five bad decisions or missed calls, a little bit of everything -- I felt like both games were decided over about four or five plays. A game has about 55 to 70 plays, and I made four or five that weren't great. Now it's about halving it, going from four to two and then from two to zero and playing a full game, which I've done a few times. I feel more confident. I love this attack.'
Calgary (5-1) has won three consecutive games after posting an impressive 41-20 victory over the host Winnipeg Blue Bombers last week.
The Stampeders have prospered due to a strong defense. Calgary leads the CFL in points allowed (18.5 per game), offensive touchdowns allowed (seven) and forced turnovers (19).
'Credit to our players first and foremost,' said Stampeders coach Dave Dickenson. 'They're playing hard, they are tackling well, they are making plays. I'd like to give some love to our staff, the entire defensive staff is really doing a good job. The players after we play are saying that we're not very complex, we're just doing our job and that's the sign of a good defense -- just doing our job.'
Calgary quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. ranks second in the league with 1,720 passing yards. He has thrown eight touchdown passes and six interceptions.
Adams is in his first season with the Stampeders. He played for Montreal from 2016-22.
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