The Edmonton Elks have released veteran kicker Sergio Castillo and defensive end Avery Ellis.
Castillo was scheduled to be the third-highest-paid kicker in the CFL next season, after converting on 37-of-44 field goals and 26-of-29 extra points with the Elks in 2022.
The West Texas A&M product broke into the CFL with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2015, before stints with the Ottawa Redblacks and Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He enjoyed a breakout season in 2019 with the B.C. Lions, going 41-of-45 on field goals and amassing a total of 153 points on his way to a CFL all-star selection.
Castillo spent the 2020 season in the NFL with the New York Jets, appearing in six games and connecting on 8-of-13 field goals, including a 55-yarder. He returned to the CFL late in the 2021 season after his rights were traded to Winnipeg, going five-for-five in Winnipeg’s 33-25 overtime victory in the 108th Grey Cup.
Through a total of 59 career CFL regular season games, the 32-year-old owns an 85.5 field goal percentage going 124-of-145 with a career-long of 57.
Edmonton drafted 36-year-old former British soccer player Dean Faithfull with the second overall pick in Tuesday’s 2023 CFL Global Draft. He was 7-of-12 on field goals in one season at Colorado State-Pueblo with a long of 42 yards.
Ellis was acquired via trade from the Montreal Alouettes last August, suiting up in seven games for Edmonton and recording 16 tackles, three sacks and one forced fumble.
The 28-year-old has made 162 tackles, 24 sacks, three forced fumbles, and one touchdown over 73 career games with the Elks, Alouettes, and Ottawa Redblacks.
