The Edmonton Elks have signed American defensive lineman Kony Ealy, who was released by the Toronto Argonauts at the end of training camp. He will be placed on the team’s one-game injured list.
Ealy started four games as a member of the Argos — three at defensive tackle and one at defensive end — and recorded four defensive tackles and one sack.
The six-foot-four, 275-pounder was originally selected in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers. He spent three seasons in Carolina (2014-2016) and tallied 90 tackles, 15 sacks, six forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and two interceptions in 62 games.
The North Carolina native helped the Panthers reach Super Bowl 50 and tied a Super Bowl record with three sacks in the game.
Ealy was traded to the New England Patriots in 2017 but waived at the end of his first training camp with the team. He claimed off waivers by the New York Jets in August 2017 and played in 15 games for the Jets, making 14 tackles, one sack, and one interception. He spent time with the Dallas Cowboys and Oakland Raiders in 2018, recording two defensive tackles over three games with the latter.
The 30-year-old also played five games for the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL in 2020 and made nine tackles and 0.5 sacks before the league ceased operations.
