Official: Brendan Bordner signs with Edmonton Elks

Photo courtesy: Bob Butrym/RFB Sport Photography

The Edmonton Elks have signed American offensive lineman Brendan Bordner. 3DownNation reported the agreement during the negotiation window. It’s a two-year deal, tying Bordner to Edmonton through 2027.

The 26-year-old started 13 games for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at left tackle last season, but was benched for the end of the regular season and playoffs in favour of Jordan Murray, who has also signed with Edmonton.

The six-foot-five, 305-pound blocker from Columbus, Ohio joined the Tiger-Cats in 2024 and made 16 starts as a rookie.

Bordner wrapped up his collegiate career at Florida Atlantic University in 2022, earning second-team All-Conference USA honours after starting 12 games at left tackle. He previously attended Rutgers University, where he started seven of the 40 games he played.

Pending CFL free agents were able to communicate with teams around the league from February 1 to 8, during which time contracts could be negotiated and agreed upon but not signed. Starting Tuesday, February 10, at noon EST, players can officially change teams.

The Edmonton Elks finished fifth in the West Division standings in 2025 with a 7-11 record, missing the playoffs for the fifth straight season. Cody Fajardo started the team’s final 13 regular-season games and went 6-7, throwing for 3,408 yards, 14 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Tre Ford started the first five, going 1-4, and threw for 984 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions.

The Elks ranked ninth in net offence, ninth in net defence, and fifth with a turnover differential of plus-four. The club’s leading rusher was Justin Rankin with 1,013 yards, the leading receiver was Kaion Julien-Grant with 820 yards, and the leading tackler was Joel Dublanko with 80 tackles. Edmonton finished seventh in attendance with average crowds of 19,050, which was a 7.1 percent decrease from the previous year.