Ottawa Redblacks' Justin Hardy (2) walks past as the Edmonton Elks' Ed Gainey (11) and Cole Nelson (55) celebrate a tackle during second half CFL action in Edmonton, Alta., on Sunday August 27, 2023. Nelson signed a two-year contract extension Friday with the Edmonton Elks.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
EDMONTON – McLeod Bethel-Thompson is returning to the CFL.
A league source said Friday night the veteran American quarterback had agreed to a one-year deal with the Edmonton Elks. The source spoke on the condition of anonymity as the CFL team hadn’t publicly announced the move.
Contract details weren’t immediately known but TSN reported the deal could be worth as much as $500,000, with bonuses. Edmonton (4-14) finished last in the West Division standings and last participated in the CFL playoffs in 2019.
Also on Friday, Canadian defensive lineman Cole Nelson signed a two-year contract extension with the Elks.
Bethel-Thompson spent last season with the New Orleans Breakers of the United States Football League. The 35-year-old San Francisco native completed 220-of-336 passes (65.5 per cent) for a league-best 2,433 passing yards with 14 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 10 games.
In 2022, Bethel-Thompson helped the Toronto Argonauts earn an upset 24-23 Grey Cup win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Regina. Bethel-Thompson was 15-of-28 passing for 203 yards before suffering a dislocated right thumb late in the fourth quarter.
Backup Chad Kelly – the nephew of former Bills’ star quarterback Jim Kelly – came off the bench to complete four-of-six passes for 43 yards. But it was Kelly’s crucial 20-yard run on second-and-15 that set up A.J. Ouellette’s game-winning five-yard touchdown run.
The six-foot-four, 220-pound Bethel-Thompson threw for a CFL- and career-high 4,731 yards in 2022 with 23 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He led Toronto (11-7) to first place in the East Division for a second straight season before completing 19-of-27 passes for 299 yards and two TDs in the Argos’ 34-27 conference final victory over the Montreal Alouettes.
The Grey Cup win was Toronto’s first since 2017. That year was Bethel-Thompson’s first with the Argos and he served as the backup to veteran starter Ricky Ray in the CFL championship game.
Bethel-Thompson began his CFL career with Winnipeg in 2016, spending time on the practice roster before being released and joining the Argos. He appeared in 74 career regular-season games (starting 46), completing 1,125-of-1,683 passes (66.8%) for 13,261 yards with 70 touchdowns, and 49 interceptions.
Bethel-Thompson also ran 93 times for 513 yards (5.5-yard average) and two TDs.
To make room for Bethel-Thompson, the Elks have reportedly released American quarterback Taylor Cornelius. Last season, Cornelius completed 103-of-175 passes (58.9 per cent) for 1,305 yards with five touchdowns and nine interceptions while going 0-7 as Edmonton’s starter.
Bethel-Thompson’s arrival would be bad news for Canadian Tre Ford, who finished the year as Edmonton’s starter, posting a 4-6 record in 10 games. The former Waterloo star completed 153-of-227 passes (67.4 per cent) with 12 TDs and six interceptions while rushing 66 times for 622 yards (9.4-yard average) and three touchdowns.
Edmonton selected Ford in the first round, eighth overall, of the ’22 CFL draft. He’s entering the final year of his rookie deal.
The six-foot-six, 312-pound Nelson, who Edmonton picked fifth overall in the ’21 CFL draft, started nine games last season. Nelson has appeared in 20 career contests with the Elks and was slated to become a free agent next month.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 5, 2024.
