Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Kydran Jenkins (54) applies pressure to Montreal Alouettes quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson (4) during second half CFL action in Winnipeg Saturday, October 25, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

By The Canadian Press

Quarterback Davis Alexander’s health a key Grey Cup question for Montreal Alouettes

Nov 12, 2025 | 12:18 PM

WINNIPEG — McLeod Bethel-Thompson could become a key player Sunday for the Montreal Alouettes.

Bethel-Thompson will begin the Grey Cup game versus the Saskatchewan Roughriders as the backup to Montreal quarterback Davis Alexander. But Alexander’s health has been a key storyline this week after he tweaked his left hamstring in the Alouettes 19-16 East final win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats last weekend.

Alexander tweaked the injury in the fourth quarter but still managed to finish the game in improving extending his win streak as a CFL starter to 13 straight games (CFL-record 11-0 in regular season, 2-0 in playoffs). Alexander ended the contest as Montreal’s rushing leader (64 yards on seven carries) but he didn’t run in the Alouettes’ seven-play, 36-yard march that kicker Jose Maltos Diaz capped with a game-winning 45-yard field goal.

When Alexander informed Montreal head coach Jason Maas that he’d tweaked his hamstring, Maas told Bethel-Thompson to begin warming up. But Alexander quickly nixed that, telling Maas there was no way he was coming out of the game.

Alexander has been receiving treatment this week on his left leg and it would appear he’ll start the Grey Cup for Montreal. But the real question remains whether he’ll be able to finish?

Looped In

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: December 4, 2025

15h ago

SOUND OFF

SOUND OFF: 16 days of activism against gender-based violence

Dec 03, 2025

Question of the Week

Will the amount of money you spend on Christmas be more or less than last year?

Dec 01, 2025

Alexander’s first season as Montreal’s starting quarterback has certainly been a winning one, but the Alouettes were 3-8 in games Alexander didn’t start. Bethel-Thompson registered those wins (3-5), including a 48-31 decision in Regina.

Bethel-Thompson threw for 379 yards and three TDs in that game after Riders easily won the first meeting of the season 34-6 on Aug. 2. Bethel-Thompson also started that contest.

However in the victory, Bethel-Thompson connected nine times with Canadian Tyson Philpot for 238 yards and two touchdowns. And Stevie Scott III ran for 125 yards on 19 carries (6.6-yard average).

Two years ago, Philpot was the Grey Cup’s top Canadian after registering six catches for 63 yards and the winning TD in the Alouettes’ 28-24 upset victory over Winnipeg.

In his first season with Montreal, Bethel-Thompson, 37, completed 158-of-218 passes (63.6 per cent) for 1,746 yards with nine TDs and nine interceptions. The San Francisco native earned Grey Cup rings with Toronto in 2017 and ’22.

After serving as Ricky Ray’s backup in ’17, Bethel-Thompson started against Winnipeg in 2022. However, a second-half thumb injury forced him out of the contest as Chad Kelly came off the bench to help rally the Argos past the Bombers 24-23.

Whoever starts for Montreal will face a solid Riders’ defence that forced two big stops late in the West final with the B.C. Lions leading 21-17. Trevor Harris capped a dramatic six-play, 74-yard drive with a three-yard scoring strike to Tommy Nield with 11 seconds remaining to give Saskatchewan the 24-21 victory.

This season, Saskatchewan’s defence was the CFL’s stingiest against the run (76 yards). It was also second in fewest yards allowed (341.5) and interceptions (24) and third both in sacks (43) and fewest offensive points (22.7).

Montreal’s strong defence is anchored by standout linebackers Darnell Sankey and Tyrice Beverette. Sankey registered 101 tackles (three for loss), two sacks and a fumble recovery while Beverette had 83 tackles (one for loss), seven sacks, four interceptions and four forced fumbles).

The Alouettes were fourth in offensive points allowed (22.8 per game) but led the CFL in fewest offensive yards (338.4 per game) and passing yards (256.9) surrendered.

One spot Montreal would appear to have an edge is with kicker Maltos Diaz. He led the CFL in field goals made (58) and tried (65) and was a stellar seven-of-eight from 50-plus yards out, with his longest being 58 yards.

Veteran Riders kicker Brett Lauther made 39-of-54 attempts but his longest (59 yards) was second only to Winnipeg’s Sergio Castillo (CFL-record 63 yards).

Montreal was 4-6 versus the West Division this season while Saskatchewan was 7-1 in games with East Division teams. The Alouettes enter this game as underdogs but still have many key players on their roster from the ’23 team that upset the favoured Bombers.

And with both defences having the ability to shut an offence down, the game could come down to a late field goal.

Pick: Montreal.

Last week: 1-1

Overall: 56-29.

NOTE — Donna Spencer and Gemma Karstens-Smith contributed to this weekly feature.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2025.

Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press