Latest news with #Elks
CTV News
an hour ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Elks QB Fajardo finally set to face former team as Roughriders host Elks
Edmonton Elks quarterback Cody Fajardo (7) stretches out for the touchdown during first half CFL action against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Winnipeg Thursday, June 26, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods REGINA — After a week of speculation, the Edmonton Elks have confirmed that quarterback Cody Fajardo will have a homecoming of sorts against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Friday in Regina. Fajardo, who was dealt to Edmonton by Montreal in the off-season, played three seasons for the Riders before signing with the Alouettes prior to the 2023 CFL season. Fajardo went on to lead the Als to a 26-24 victory over the favoured Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the 2023 Grey Cup game, being named game MVP after completing 21-of-26 passes for 290 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. In the first five games of the season, Fajardo has served as backup to Tre Ford. Both quarterbacks shared first team reps during practice this week with Elks head coach Mark Killam being coy about who would start against the Riders. 'You're just going to have to wait until we release the depth chart,' Killam said during a media scrum on Tuesday. On Thursday morning, the Elks sent out their depth chart for Friday with Fajardo pencilled in as the starter. Having also played for the Toronto Argonauts and B.C. Lions, this will be Fajardo's first start ever against the Riders. Saskatchewan head coach Corey Mace had a sharp answer when he was asked Thursday if he cared who the Elks were going to start at quarterback. 'We always care, but it just kind of narrows the focus a little bit,' he said. 'It'll be another night of preparation for the guys to narrow in. Now with that being said, you still could see both . . . . We were preparing for both but certainly there will be a little heavier emphasis now on Cody.' In his three seasons with Saskatchewan, Fajardo had a record of 27-17 as starter, totalling 11,046 passing yards with 53 touchdowns and 33 interceptions. After two seasons with the Alouettes, he was dealt to the Elks for McLeod Bethel-Thompson, with Davis Alexander replacing Fajardo as Montreal's starting quarterback. Earlier this week Fajardo told reporters what he thought the Elks need to do to be successful on offence. 'We've got to stay on the field, second down conversions, a lot of people are talking about it,' he said. 'The second thing is that narratives don't win football games, and they don't lose football games so everybody can write whatever they want.' Fajardo took over from Ford in the fourth quarter against the B.C. Lions on July 13, finishing five of seven passing for 78 yards and one touchdown in a 32-14 loss. Mace, who signed on as Saskatchewan's head coach in 2024, is familiar with Fajardo. In 2021, as a coach with the Calgary Stampeders, Mace's defence faced Fajardo in three games. Yet Mace explained that preparation is more about the present than the past. 'Sometimes you've got to be careful just looking at players as who they've always been. You kind of want to look at who they are current day,' he said. 'He's a heck of a quarterback, so we've got to be on our P's and Q's defensively to make sure we make it as tough as day possible on him,' Mace added. The Riders have come out of the starting game hot while the Elks have struggled. Yet the Riders know firsthand what can happen when a team underestimates an opponent. The Elks came into Regina last season with an 0-7 record while the Riders had a 5-2 mark, but the Elks posted a 42-31 victory with Ford passing for 250 yards and Javon Leake rushing for 169 yards and three touchdowns. Linebacker Jameer Thurman says the Riders will not be taking the Elks lightly on Friday. 'I don't think we're underestimating them,' he said. 'If you remember, last year they came in here and they got their first win of the season against us. So, I made sure to let all the guys know what happened last time they came here, and they ran the ball all over us as well. 'So, we are dialed in on that, and we're not taking anybody for granted.' EDMONTON ELKS (1-4-0) AT SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS (5-1-0) Friday at Mosaic Stadium HARRIS IS HOT: Riders quarterback Trevor Harris set a CFL record in a win over B.C. last week with his ninth consecutive game with a completion rate of 70 per cent or higher. He currently leads the league with a completion percentage of 76 per cent. LEAKE IS SPECIAL: Leake leads the CFL in punt return yards (288), average (16.9 yards) and returns of 30-plus yards at three. Leake has one punt return for a TD this season, going 94 yards against the Ottawa Redblacks on July 6. MEYERS MAKING A MARK: Riders receiver Dohnte Meyers has 394 yards receiving with four catches of 30-plus yards. In last week's 33-27 victory over the B.C. Lions, Meyers caught seven passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns, including a 50-yard TD on Saskatchewan's opening drive of the game. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 24, 2025. Jeff DeDekker
Winnipeg Free Press
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Edmonton QB Fajardo finally set to face former team as Roughriders host Elks
REGINA – After a week of speculation, the Edmonton Elks have confirmed that quarterback Cody Fajardo will have a homecoming of sorts against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Friday in Regina. Fajardo, who was dealt to Edmonton by Montreal in the off-season, played three seasons for the Riders before signing with the Alouettes prior to the 2023 CFL season. Fajardo went on to lead the Als to a 26-24 victory over the favoured Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the 2023 Grey Cup game, being named game MVP after completing 21-of-26 passes for 290 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. In the first five games of the season, Fajardo has served as backup to Tre Ford. Both quarterbacks shared first team reps during practice this week with Elks head coach Mark Killam being coy about who would start against the Riders. 'You're just going to have to wait until we release the depth chart,' Killam said during a media scrum on Tuesday. On Thursday morning, the Elks sent out their depth chart for Friday with Fajardo pencilled in as the starter. Having also played for the Toronto Argonauts and B.C. Lions, this will be Fajardo's first start ever against the Riders. Saskatchewan head coach Corey Mace had a sharp answer when he was asked Thursday if he cared who the Elks were going to start at quarterback. 'We always care, but it just kind of narrows the focus a little bit,' he said. 'It'll be another night of preparation for the guys to narrow in. Now with that being said, you still could see both . . . . We were preparing for both but certainly there will be a little heavier emphasis now on Cody.' In his three seasons with Saskatchewan, Fajardo had a record of 27-17 as starter, totalling 11,046 passing yards with 53 touchdowns and 33 interceptions. After two seasons with the Alouettes, he was dealt to the Elks for McLeod Bethel-Thompson, with Davis Alexander replacing Fajardo as Montreal's starting quarterback. Earlier this week Fajardo told reporters what he thought the Elks need to do to be successful on offence. 'We've got to stay on the field, second down conversions, a lot of people are talking about it,' he said. 'The second thing is that narratives don't win football games, and they don't lose football games so everybody can write whatever they want.' Fajardo took over from Ford in the fourth quarter against the B.C. Lions on July 13, finishing five of seven passing for 78 yards and one touchdown in a 32-14 loss. Mace, who signed on as Saskatchewan's head coach in 2024, is familiar with Fajardo. In 2021, as a coach with the Calgary Stampeders, Mace's defence faced Fajardo in three games. Yet Mace explained that preparation is more about the present than the past. 'Sometimes you've got to be careful just looking at players as who they've always been. You kind of want to look at who they are current day,' he said. 'He's a heck of a quarterback, so we've got to be on our P's and Q's defensively to make sure we make it as tough as day possible on him,' Mace added. The Riders have come out of the starting game hot while the Elks have struggled. Yet the Riders know firsthand what can happen when a team underestimates an opponent. The Elks came into Regina last season with an 0-7 record while the Riders had a 5-2 mark, but the Elks posted a 42-31 victory with Ford passing for 250 yards and Javon Leake rushing for 169 yards and three touchdowns. Linebacker Jameer Thurman says the Riders will not be taking the Elks lightly on Friday. 'I don't think we're underestimating them,' he said. 'If you remember, last year they came in here and they got their first win of the season against us. So, I made sure to let all the guys know what happened last time they came here, and they ran the ball all over us as well. 'So, we are dialed in on that, and we're not taking anybody for granted.' EDMONTON ELKS (1-4-0) AT SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS (5-1-0) Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Friday at Mosaic Stadium HARRIS IS HOT: Riders quarterback Trevor Harris set a CFL record in a win over B.C. last week with his ninth consecutive game with a completion rate of 70 per cent or higher. He currently leads the league with a completion percentage of 76 per cent. LEAKE IS SPECIAL: Leake leads the CFL in punt return yards (288), average (16.9 yards) and returns of 30-plus yards at three. Leake has one punt return for a TD this season, going 94 yards against the Ottawa Redblacks on July 6. MEYERS MAKING A MARK: Riders receiver Dohnte Meyers has 394 yards receiving with four catches of 30-plus yards. In last week's 33-27 victory over the B.C. Lions, Meyers caught seven passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns, including a 50-yard TD on Saskatchewan's opening drive of the game. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 24, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Edmonton QB Fajardo finally set to face former team as Roughriders host Elks
REGINA - After a week of speculation, the Edmonton Elks have confirmed that quarterback Cody Fajardo will have a homecoming of sorts against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Friday in Regina. Fajardo, who was dealt to Edmonton by Montreal in the off-season, played three seasons for the Riders before signing with the Alouettes prior to the 2023 CFL season. Fajardo went on to lead the Als to a 26-24 victory over the favoured Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the 2023 Grey Cup game, being named game MVP after completing 21-of-26 passes for 290 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. In the first five games of the season, Fajardo has served as backup to Tre Ford. Both quarterbacks shared first team reps during practice this week with Elks head coach Mark Killam being coy about who would start against the Riders. 'You're just going to have to wait until we release the depth chart,' Killam said during a media scrum on Tuesday. On Thursday morning, the Elks sent out their depth chart for Friday with Fajardo pencilled in as the starter. Having also played for the Toronto Argonauts and B.C. Lions, this will be Fajardo's first start ever against the Riders. Saskatchewan head coach Corey Mace had a sharp answer when he was asked Thursday if he cared who the Elks were going to start at quarterback. 'We always care, but it just kind of narrows the focus a little bit,' he said. 'It'll be another night of preparation for the guys to narrow in. Now with that being said, you still could see both . . . . We were preparing for both but certainly there will be a little heavier emphasis now on Cody.' In his three seasons with Saskatchewan, Fajardo had a record of 27-17 as starter, totalling 11,046 passing yards with 53 touchdowns and 33 interceptions. After two seasons with the Alouettes, he was dealt to the Elks for McLeod Bethel-Thompson, with Davis Alexander replacing Fajardo as Montreal's starting quarterback. Earlier this week Fajardo told reporters what he thought the Elks need to do to be successful on offence. 'We've got to stay on the field, second down conversions, a lot of people are talking about it,' he said. 'The second thing is that narratives don't win football games, and they don't lose football games so everybody can write whatever they want.' Fajardo took over from Ford in the fourth quarter against the B.C. Lions on July 13, finishing five of seven passing for 78 yards and one touchdown in a 32-14 loss. Mace, who signed on as Saskatchewan's head coach in 2024, is familiar with Fajardo. In 2021, as a coach with the Calgary Stampeders, Mace's defence faced Fajardo in three games. Yet Mace explained that preparation is more about the present than the past. 'Sometimes you've got to be careful just looking at players as who they've always been. You kind of want to look at who they are current day,' he said. 'He's a heck of a quarterback, so we've got to be on our P's and Q's defensively to make sure we make it as tough as day possible on him,' Mace added. The Riders have come out of the starting game hot while the Elks have struggled. Yet the Riders know firsthand what can happen when a team underestimates an opponent. The Elks came into Regina last season with an 0-7 record while the Riders had a 5-2 mark, but the Elks posted a 42-31 victory with Ford passing for 250 yards and Javon Leake rushing for 169 yards and three touchdowns. Linebacker Jameer Thurman says the Riders will not be taking the Elks lightly on Friday. 'I don't think we're underestimating them,' he said. 'If you remember, last year they came in here and they got their first win of the season against us. So, I made sure to let all the guys know what happened last time they came here, and they ran the ball all over us as well. 'So, we are dialed in on that, and we're not taking anybody for granted.' EDMONTON ELKS (1-4-0) AT SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS (5-1-0) Friday at Mosaic Stadium HARRIS IS HOT: Riders quarterback Trevor Harris set a CFL record in a win over B.C. last week with his ninth consecutive game with a completion rate of 70 per cent or higher. He currently leads the league with a completion percentage of 76 per cent. LEAKE IS SPECIAL: Leake leads the CFL in punt return yards (288), average (16.9 yards) and returns of 30-plus yards at three. Leake has one punt return for a TD this season, going 94 yards against the Ottawa Redblacks on July 6. MEYERS MAKING A MARK: Riders receiver Dohnte Meyers has 394 yards receiving with four catches of 30-plus yards. In last week's 33-27 victory over the B.C. Lions, Meyers caught seven passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns, including a 50-yard TD on Saskatchewan's opening drive of the game. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 24, 2025.
CTV News
a day ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Roughrider Marcus Sayles' Gameday Preview
Regina Watch Learn how the Saskatchewan Roughrider's are preparing for Friday's matchup against the Elks with defensive back Marcus Sayles.
Calgary Herald
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Were the Edmonton Elks right to overhaul things coming into this year?
Article content Now, offensive inefficiency contributes to that, of course, but it comes down to the defence not being able to stop anything. And that makes it hard for Ford to do something when he might as well have paid for a ticket, considering the amount of time he spent watching from the sideline. Article content And the worst part is, they have an entire bye week to think about things. Make no mistake, there are plenty of fair and hard questions they need to ask when looking themselves in the mirror. Not the least of which goes back 365 days ago, to when Jackson took over. Article content His win percentage as interim head coach, having gone 7-6, wasn't good enough, even though he earned the first winning record here since Jason Maas led Edmonton to its last playoff appearance in 2019. If you recall, Maas was fired after bringing the then-Eskimos to the divisional-final round for the third time in his four seasons as head coach. Again, not good enough? Article content Article content Since then, the three head coaches named in between Maas and Jackson went a combined 11-44 over four years, five if you include the 2020 season that was cancelled due to COVID-19. Article content Jackson wanted the job, and they didn't keep him or Simon, who went on to become GM at his alma mater, the University of Maryland, in the Big Ten. Now, under rookie head coach Mark Kilam and GM Ed Hervey, the Elks are 1-4. Article content That's a far cry from a run that saw Jackson guide the team to the playoff precipice by winning five of six, coming as close to punching their post-season ticket as they have in years. Article content But despite showing more oomph than the three previous seasons combined, the club decided not to carry over any of that momentum. Article content The new owner opted for change over continuity. And in his bid to distance the club, full stop, from its recent past, it's back to the ol' drawing board as Elks fans have to endure more growing pains in what feels like an endless cycle of rebuilds. Article content Article content That being said, as ugly as this first month has been, it doesn't necessarily mean it was the wrong decision. Article content Let's face it, there was never going to be an immediate turnaround this season just because the Elks received a sorely needed infusion of cash following the franchise-saving sale last summer. Article content Hervey has made no secret of his love for all things Edmonton, and already proved he has what it takes to put together a winner, given his stewardship of the club's last Grey Cup in 2015. But there is only so much a GM can do in one off-season. Article content And Kilam and his staff show promise, even if the runway for rookie head coaches is typically longer than a fan base going through a drought like Edmonton's cares to admit at this point. Article content At the same time, the Elks can't simply stay the course after the ship capsizes in a catastrophic loss like that one.
