CFL Notebook: Dru Brown Traded, McBeth Returns, Players Of The Week

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers announce Tuesday the club has acquired quarterback Dru Brown and a second round pick in the 2027 CFL Draft (previously traded by Winnipeg to Ottawa), in exchange for Winnipeg’s first round selection in 2027 and a second round selection in 2028 (conditional).

Brown (5-11, 200; Oklahoma State; born: March 21, 1997, in Palo Alto, CA) first came to the CFL with the Blue Bombers in 2021 and spent three seasons with the club, appearing in 38 games over that span and going 2-1 in his three starts while also being a member of the 2021 Grey Cup championship team.

His negotiating rights were traded to Ottawa on January 18, 2024, before he became a free agent and after signing with the RedBlacks he was the team’s starter in 2024-25.

Brown appeared in 11 games with Ottawa in 2025 and completed 71.5 percent of his passes for 2,389 yards with 14 touchdowns against 10 interceptions. In his first season with Ottawa the team was 8-6 in his 14 starts and advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 2018 as he threw for 3,959 yards and 18 touchdowns with 10 interceptions.

In 2023, his last season in Winnipeg before heading to Ottawa, Brown set a CFL record for the most touchdown passes thrown without an interception in a season with nine.

The Blue Bombers first signed Brown on March 11, 2020, but the 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He made his debut in 2021.

Brown split his college days between the College of San Mateo (2015), Hawaii (2016-17) and Oklahoma State (2018-19). He was named the MVP of the 2016 Hawaii Bowl after leading Hawaii to a win over Middle Tennessee.

(Blue Bombers PR)

The Ottawa REDBLACKS announced today that the football club has signed American quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson.

Bethel-Thompson suited up in 15 games last season for the Montreal Alouettes, including eight starts, completing 155 of 243 pass attempts for 1,746 yards with nine touchdowns and nine interceptions. The veteran quarterback has spent seven seasons in the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts (2017-22), Edmonton Elks (2024) and Alouettes (2025), completing 1,598 of 2,394 passes for 18,755 yards with 103 touchdowns and 69 interceptions. He is a two-time CFL East-All Star (2021, 22) and a two-time Grey Cup champion with the Argos (2017, 22), including winning his second championship with head coach Ryan Dinwiddie.

“We’re excited to add a player like McLeod to our football club. I’ve worked with him in the past, and I know the type of competitor he is,” said Ryan Dinwiddie, Head Coach and General Manager of the Ottawa REDBLACKS. “He’s a veteran quarterback with a lengthy resume and the experience he brings will be a valuable addition to our organization. He’s seen just about every situation in the game and we’re looking forward to having him in our locker room.”

In addition to his time in the CFL, Bethel-Thompson also spent time in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers (2011, 13, 15), Miami Dolphins (2011, 14-15), Minnesota Vikings (2012-13, 14), New England Patriots (2014) and Philadelphia Eagles (2016) before spending time on the practice roster with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2016. The Sacramento State product also spent time in the Arena Football League with the San Jose SaberCats (2011), the UFL with the Sacramento Mountain Lions (2011) and in the USFL with the New Orleans Breakers (2023).

Bo Levi Mitchell, Justin Rankin and Kevin Mital have been named Week 3 Players of the Week in the Canadian Football League (CFL). The honour spotlights exceptional statistical performances, pivotal plays, game-breaking feats and more.

The three players were chosen by a panel composed of representatives from the CFL’s Football Operations, Player and Game Statistics, and Content departments.

BO LEVI MITCHELL | QB | HAMILTON TIGER-CATS | BC 27 – HAM 41
- 15-of-18 (83.3 per cent)
- Fourth career five-touchdown pass game
- 285 passing yards (15.8 average)
- Three 30-yard+ passes, including a 56-yard effort to Kiondré Smith for a touchdown in the opening minute
- Back-to-back games with perfect 158.3 efficiency rating
JUSTIN RANKIN | RB | EDMONTON ELKS | MTL 29 – EDM 32
- 18 rushes for 179 yards (9.9 average); second 100-yard+ game of the season
- Two third-quarter touchdowns – 36- and 47-yard efforts
- Seven rushes 10-yards+ and two for 20-yards+
- Five receptions on five targets for 51 yards
- Career-high 230 yards from scrimmage
- Second Player of the Week honour (W1)
KEVIN MITAL | REC | TORONTO ARGONAUTS | TOR 44 – OTT 24
- Eight receptions on 11 targets
- Career-high 178 yards (22.3 average); third career 100-yard+ game and second of the season
- Three 30-yard+ catches, including a 56-yard effort in the third quarter
- 50 yards after catch
- Three second down conversions