The Edmonton Elks signed a pair of American prospects on Friday, including veteran NFL safety Jordan Lucas.
Originally selected in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins, Lucas went on to play 19 games over two seasons with the club, playing primarily on special teams. His best season came in 2018 as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs when he played all 16 games and started four, recording 32 tackles, a sack and an interception.
Lucas won the Super Bowl as a member of the Chiefs the next season, before signing with the Chicago Bears as a free agent. He opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 and last suited up in the NFL in 2021, playing one game with the Indianapolis Colts.
In total, the 29-year-old defender played in 50 games over the course of five NFL campaigns, notching 47 tackles, three pass deflections, a sack, and an interception.
Prior to the NFL, Lucas played four seasons at Penn State, contributing as both a cornerback and a safety. The six-foot-one, 190-pound defensive back notched 81 tackles, three interceptions, 11 tackles for loss, and four sacks over his NCAA career, twice being named an All-Big Ten honourable mention.
In addition to Lucas, the Elks have also signed American running back Shannon Brooks.
The five-foot-11, 200-pound ball carrier racked up 431 carries for 2,290 yards and 20 touchdowns in 38 career games at the University of Minnesota from 2015 to 2019. The Georgia native also recorded two receiving touchdowns and threw for another, a pass that was caught by current Winnipeg Blue Bomber Drew Wolitarsky.
Brooks most recently played for the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League, coming over after a stint with the Massachusetts Pirates in 2021. He ran for 396 yards on 89 attempts this past season, adding 18 touchdowns on the ground and nine receiving scores.
