The Edmonton Elks are making moves for the future, signing four players. They will each be placed on the team’s suspended list for the purposes of COVID-19 quarantining.
Among the signees is quarterback Case Cookus, who joins the Elks after brief stints with four NFL clubs over the last two seasons. He originally joined the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2020, followed by stints with the Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings, and Las Vegas Raiders in 2021.
Cookus appeared in 41 games over five seasons (2015-19) at Northern Arizona University of the Big Sky Conference. He completed 62.3 percent of his passes for 12,057 yards, 105 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions while rushing 206 times for 232 yards and six scores.
The Elks also signed American defensive back Herb Waters, American offensive lineman Emanuel McGirt, and American defensive lineman Chris Nelson.
Waters signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in December 2020, but was released prior to the team’s 2021 season. The defensive back has history with Elks’ head coach Jaime Elizondo as the pair were part of the Tampa Bay Vipers of the XFL. Waters spent parts of three seasons in the NFL as a member of the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers (2016-18).
McGirt spent five seasons at North Carolina State (2015-19) and brings elite size at six-foot-six and 335 pounds.
Nelson spent five years at Texas (2014-18) before stints with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans in 2019. The six-foot-one, 315-pound defender recorded 39 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and one pass knockdown as a senior.
