With a 38-year-old quarterback leading the way, the Ottawa REDBLACKS are trying to do something that’s eluded them in all 13 attempts during the 2026 CFL season - win a football game.
On the heels of a heartbreaking 40-38 loss to Calgary - a game won on an unlikely 62-yard Rene Paredes field goal - the REDBLACKS get another crack at the Stampeders Saturday (3 p.m. start) at TD Place.
With playoff hopes faded in the rear-view mirror, the REDBLACKS are looking to finish the season strong. A good start would be a win Saturday, with McLeod Bethel-Thompson starting his third game at quarterback for the REDBLACKS.
“Professional sports are judged by wins and losses. We have to find a way to get a win,” said REDBLACKS coach Ryan Dinwiddie. “The last two weeks, we've made some strides, (losing) both of them on walk-off field goals (Ottawa also lost 26-23 to Toronto on Lirim Hajrullahu’s 29-yard three-pointer two weeks ago). It’s a tough pill to swallow.
“You have to look at the silver linings and take the positives out of it. We played good enough to win (last week), I thought we deserved to win. It was tough, but we’ve shown improvement. We feel confident, we had a good work week, and we feel like we match up well (against Calgary).
“We’re trying to win some games and build some momentum going into next year.”
The injuries have stacked up for the REDBLACKS. There are currently a whopping 20 players on the six-game injured list.
So, what’s at stake? How do the REDBLACKS push forward and stay motivated?
“You're playing for the love of the game,” said Dinwiddie. “We're not competing for standings or a playoff spot, but guys are playing and coaching for their jobs. There’s been a revolving door here the last month, guys leaving, some guys coming in. That’s the nature of the business. That's just where we're at. If that doesn’t motivate you, I don't know what will.”
So, how about the performance of Bethel-Thompson, who was signed by the REDBLACKS in late June and has been their starter for the past two weeks? Against Calgary, he completed 27-of-48 passes for 379 yards and five touchdowns. Through his football career, he has been with six NFL teams. A two-time Grey Cup winner and two-time East all-star, Bethel-Thompson is with his fifth CFL team.
“We missed a few deep balls last week that we wish we had back,” said Dinwiddie. “We left some yards out there. (Bethel-Thompson) gave us the opportunity. I think he can build off of that. He should have some confidence. He's still working through some rust; he hasn't played a lot of football lately.”
Bethel-Thompson said he’s just trying to be “the best version of myself for each play, one play at a time. Take what the defence gives us.”
Getting the timing down with his receivers is an ongoing process.
“There's a lot of things to get used to, and it's just a day-by-day operation,” he said. “Keep chopping wood.”
His CFL career looked like it could be over heading into this season. Dealt by Saskatchewan to Montreal in exchange for Cody Fajardo heading into 2025, stepping in for injured Davis Alexander at points during the season, Bethel-Thompson was back home in the San Francisco Bay Area working out and training quarterbacks with former REDBLACK Jeremiah Masoli.
Asked if he thought his quarterbacking days were done, Bethel-Thompson said: “You never know. There are so many years when you're not sure if it's going to keep going. I was coaching quarterbacks and really enjoying that. That was really powerful. Getting a chance to play again, it's like I’ve got to show those quarterbacks that I can still do it. I’m just 100% where my feet are and taking it one moment at a time.
“The last couple of years I really changed my training, and I feel as good as I ever have. With age, recovery happens slower, and you can't do as much pounding on the knees as you could before. Now, you see so many quarterbacks playing later and later because they know more about their body and how to take better care of themselves.”
A look around the CFL shows there are quarterbacks playing at an elite level well into their 30s (Zach Collaros is 38 and Bo Levi Mitchell is 36), plus there’s Trevor Harris, who’s 40.
“Coming up here is about learning a new game,” said Bethel-Thompson. “Sometimes it takes more than a couple of years to get there. Once you have it figured out, you have a step up on everybody. Trevor's figured out his game. Zach's figured out his version of the game. Everyone's got their own blueprint on it. We see Vernon (Adams) coming in this week; he's got his own approach, and he does it so well. It's so much about finding about who you are, then how you fit in with this game.”
How long does Bethel-Thompson plan on playing?
“I haven’t thought about anything beyond this interview; beyond that, it’s a mystery,” he said with a laugh.