Taylor Cornelius to start for Elks on Friday over healthy Trevor Harris

Photo courtesy: Edmonton Elks

Taylor Cornelius is the new starting quarterback of the Edmonton Elks, according to 630 CHED’s Dave Campbell.

#Elks HC Jamie Elizondo says after practice he will go with Taylor Cornelius and Dakota Prukop over Trevor Harris for Friday’s game against the Bombers. Cornelius took the majority of first team reps. There is no injury to Harris.#CFL

Elizondo adds it’s a hard decision to make because of his history with Harris but says even though the struggles are not all on him he’s not getting enough out of the QB position as his starter. Feels they can attack differently with Cornelius and Prukop. #Elks #CFL

Harris had a terrible outing in Week 9 against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, completing 9-of-22 pass attempts for 87 yards. It was his first game back following a neck injury that held him out of a pair of losses to Winnipeg and Ottawa.

Cornelius didn’t fare much better in relief this past week, completing 6-of-13 pass attempts for 47 yards and one interception. The rookie has completed 61 percent of his passes for 624 yard, three touchdowns, and six interceptions in two starts this season.

With Dakota Prukop dressing as the backup on Friday, it appears Harris won’t even be on the active roster this week.

The Elks (2-6) are at the bottom of the West Division standings, sitting four points back of the Calgary Stampeders (4-5) and B.C. Lions (4-4). The club has the league’s toughest remaining schedule and will be forced to play their final three games in just seven days.

Cornelius played under Elks’ head coach Jaime Elizondo in the XFL with the Tampa Bay Vipers. He started for games and completed 63 percent of his passes for 858 yards, four touchdowns, and six interceptions while rushing 17 times for 114 yards and three scores.

The six-foot-five, 232-pound passer went unselected in the 2019 NFL Draft, though he signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent. He did not make the final roster and subsequently headed to the XFL.

Cornelius spent four seasons at Oklahoma State University, becoming a starter in his senior season. He completed 59.4 percent of his passes for 3,978 yards, 32 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions.