Alouettes receiver Tyler Snead shows his versatility by throwing TD pass

Tyler Snead is perfect as a CFL passer and now has a touchdown strike to his credit, but Davis Alexander need not worry about his job as the Montreal Alouettes starting quarterback.

Snead hit Canadian Tyson Philpot on a seven-yard touchdown pass in last week’s 37-30 home win over the Calgary Stampeders. The fourth-year receiver has completed all three passes he has attempted in the CFL for 75 yards.

However, Snead isn’t a threat to Alexander, the CFL’s second-ranked passer with 1,779 yards who’s also thrown eight TD passes with no interceptions this season.

“No, he’s definitely not in danger,” Snead said with a chuckle. “I grew up playing baseball so I always kind of knew how to throw the ball and always had a decent arm in football.

“In college, they let me throw it a little bit (four-of-six passing for 137 yards and three TDs at East Carolina). I like doing it every now and then, especially on trick plays like that, I think it’s exciting and can also get the crowd going.”

Snead caught an Alexander swing pass, then made a leaping toss to an open Philpot in the first quarter to open the scoring. Although Philpot was behind the secondary, he still had to make a diving grab.

“I could’ve thrown a better pass but we made it work,” Snead said. “I had to jump a little bit, I’ve never really done that before and so that was new.

“But I got it off and luckily Tyson made a great play.”

Philpot has made many great plays this season for Montreal (4-1). He leads the CFL in targets (56), catches (45) and yards (719) and is tied for second in TD grabs (four).

Philpot is on pace for a league-record 2,588 receiving yards. Snead is Montreal’s second-leading receiver with 49 targets, 31 receptions for 470 yards and three touchdowns.

Philpot and Snead are very close as teammates but actively compete against each other on the field. So while Philpot currently owns receiver bragging rights, he hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass — at least not yet as last week Montreal also executed a flea flicker against Calgary.

“We go back and forth talking smack to each other but it’s all fun and games,” Snead said. “That’s my boy at the end of the day.

“He’s off to a crazy start, I’m saying I’m playing catch-up right now. But I do that have that (TD pass) on him.”

However, Snead would willingly share that distinction with Philpot if he’s called upon to look for Snead in the end zone.

“He made a great play for me so I’d have to make a great play for him, its only right,” Snead said. “I want him to make a play every time and he wants me to make a play every time.

“With the trick plays we have, he might get his shot.”

But it’s Alexander who makes Montreal’s offence tick. After being relegated to just seven regular-season starts last season due to a lingering hamstring ailment, Alexander has started every Alouettes contest thus far heading into their rematch with Calgary (2-3) in Alberta on Saturday.

Montreal is currently tops in average yards per offensive play (7.83) and average gain on first down (8.5 yards), second in net offence (447.8 yards per game) and tied for third in offensive points (31.6 per game). The Alouettes have also allowed a CFL-low four sacks as Alexander has thrown for 300-or-more yards in all five starts, a league high.

“He’s always going to go to the right place and find that open guy,” Snead said of Alexander. “He doesn’t make bad throws or decisions so when you have a guy like that it’s easy to play with him and play your own game.

“Being 5-0 would be nice in a perfect world, but 4-1 is the next best thing. We just have to continue to build off that, keep stacking wins and playing good ball.”

A Grey Cup championship is Snead’s top priority in 2026. He experienced that in 2023 as an Alouettes rookie but also endured heartbreak last year with Montreal’s 25-17 championship loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

“I’m a team guy, always have been, that’s how my dad raised me,” Snead said. “I guess I have some (personal goals) in mind … but I feel like if they happen, they happen.

“Just going out there with the team and guys we have and how close we are as a group makes it fun to compete and make plays. I’ve just enjoyed it and I’m excited for the whole year.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 15, 2026.

Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press