Redblacks back McLeod Bethel-Thompson as backup ahead of Friday night matchup with Saskatchewan
The 38-year-old veteran will suit up for Ottawa for the first time as Jake Maier's backup when the Roughriders visit on July 5.
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McLeod Bethel-Thompson will make his debut with the Ottawa Redblacks as the backup quarterback to Jake Maier when Saskatchewan visits on July 5, marking the latest connection in a tightly knit CFL quarterback brotherhood.
Bethel-Thompson, who turns 38 on Friday, replaces Dru Brown, who moved to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to back up Zach Collaros. The musical-chairs pattern continues a trend: Collaros replaced Jeremiah Masoli as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats' starter in 2017, while Masoli, now working out in the San Francisco Bay Area, has been helping prepare Bethel-Thompson.
Maier will face former Redblack Trevor Harris, a 40-year-old quarterback he played alongside in Saskatchewan last year and with whom he won a Grey Cup. Had Harris decided not to play in 2026, Maier could have been Saskatchewan's starter. Maier praised Harris's preparation and professionalism Wednesday. "He's one of the best preparers I've ever been around," said Maier. "He never turns it off. He is always the quarterback."
Head coach Ryan Didwiddie said Bethel-Thompson, who has completed 66.8 per cent of his passes for 18,755 yards, 103 touchdowns and 69 interceptions across 105 CFL games, could play if needed despite having only one practice with the team. "I think he's probably another week (from being fully ready), but he went out there today and ran all the scout team reps, and the ball was jumping off his hand, he was ripping it," Didwiddie said. "I wouldn't be afraid to put them out there" if required.
