Ex-Nevada quarterback Cody Fajardo traded from Montreal to Edmonton

Former Nevada quarterback Cody Fajardo was traded Tuesday from the Montreal Alouettes to the Edmonton Elks.

Fajardo’s future was in limbo after Montreal signed this year’s backup quarterback, Davis Alexander, to a three-year contract while presumably giving him the starting job for 2025.

Fajardo spent two seasons in Montreal, leading the Alouettes to a Grey Cup championship in 2023 and the best CFL’s best regular-season record in 2024 before the team was upset by Toronto, 30-28, in the Eastern Final. Fajardo dealt with hamstring and rib issues this season, paving the way for Alexander to get playing time and go 4-0 during his absence.

In exchange for Fajardo, Edmonton dealt McLeod Bethel-Thompson to the Alouettes. Bethel-Thompson was Edmonton’s primary starter this season, although that role is expected to go to Tre Ford in 2025. Ford is a Canadian-born player who spent his college days at the University of Waterloo in Ontario. Ford is entering his fourth season in the CFL.

“We believe in the importance of depth at the quarterback position and having two dependable options behind centre in the Canadian Football League,” Elks VP of Football Operations/General Manager Ed Hervey said in a news release. “Cody is an accomplished CFL quarterback who will bring valuable experience to our locker room and organization. We believe Cody can help this team and push Tre Ford to be the most successful quarterback he can be.”

Fajardo is entering his 11th season in the CFL and would be on his fifth CFL team (out of nine) after stints with Toronto, BC, Saskatchewan and Montreal. The 32-year-old has completed a CFL-record 71 percent of his career passes for 17,998 yards with 83 touchdowns and 52 interceptions. He has rushed for 2,493 yards and 41 scores. A two-time Grey Cup champion, Fajardo completed 73.6 percent of his passes for 3,105 yards with 16 touchdowns and seven interceptions last season. He added 277 rushing yards and three scores.

“McLeod is a veteran in the CFL and he could be a great backup for our team,” Montreal general manager Danny Maciocia said in a news release. “I thank Cody for his two years in Montreal. He has been a true leader both in the locker room and on the field. I wish him the best of luck in Edmonton.”

Fajardo, who played for Nevada from 2010-14 and was recently inducted into the Wolf Pack Hall of Fame, visited the NSN studio earlier this month. You can watch that full interview below.