Edmonton Elks get nostalgic with preseason loss to Stamps at Clarke Stadium (& five other thoughts)

Photo courtesy: Edmonton Elks

As the preseason games came to an end for 2026, the Edmonton Elks found a lot of evaluation tape and not much else in a 21-18 loss to the Calgary Stampeders. A mistake-filled game saw a number of twos and threes stick out, both positively and negatively.

Here are my thoughts on the game.

Back where it began

The nostalgia ran high as the fans rolled into Clarke Stadium to see their professional team play there for the first time since 1978.

As was the case with the last game played there, the weather decided not to cooperate. A one-hour lightning delay left many fans under the stands trying to stay dry or heading out. Is it really a CFL game these days without some kind of weather delay?

Beyond that, though, it was great to be back in the old park. I thought the Elks did the right things with the old-timey programs, paper tickets, retro merch, and old ads throughout the game. The intimacy of the smaller stadium made it feel like you were “on top” of the players, giving fans great sightlines and a sense of being in the action.

It’s unfortunate that the weather drove some fans away, as it was a fun shared experience. Kudos to the team for finding a good solution when not able to play on their normal field.

Better start for Fajardo

After a couple of suspect outings, both in scrimmages and last week’s game, the first team offence needed more time to gel. This game, it felt like they had found that rhythm.

I always find it exciting to watch Justin Rankin, and he did not disappoint, getting a big play early. The third-year running back broke a 19-yard dash on his third play of the game. He has spoken about his lofty goal of 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving, which he fell 300 receiving yards short of last year. With the improvement of the offensive line and another year in the Maksymic system, it’s not impossible. Defences will have something to say about that, but the graduate of “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Like It” University is ready to prove them wrong.

Cody Fajardo seemed to be back in stride, as well. The veteran quarterback enters his tenth season wanting to be the guy to lead this team back to the playoffs. After connecting on only 33 percent of his passes last week, the Nevada product was back to his usual 80+ percent in this game. The reads were in sync with the receivers and looked more like what we are used to seeing. There wasn’t a touchdown pass, but the California native moved the ball down the field. A turnover on downs looked to be a situational opportunity for evaluation rather than a play normally run on third-and-inches.

Head coach Mark Kilam gave Fajardo two drives, and both ended at or near the endzone. I’d say the rust is knocked off for the start of the regular season.

Feisty D-line

General manager Ed Hervey made changes to both lines of scrimmage, but his biggest splash in free agency was the acquisition of defensive end Malik Carney. Fans got to see the starting four defensive linemen in action for the first time on Friday night, and alongside Jared Brinkman, Jordan Williams, and Robbie Smith, the Grey Cup winner made an immediate impact.

The North Carolina product brought a feisty edge to the line, getting into a scrum with Calgary offensive lineman D’Antne Demery early. Granted, it resulted in offsetting penalties, but I am okay with that in a preseason game to set a bit of a tone. Carney’s presence helped open up a lane for a Brinkman sack on the first drive. With opposition teams needing to worry about him and, likely, double-teaming Brinkman, some major opportunities for Robbie Smith to return to form are there.

The feistiness did not stop there. Much like last week, defensive coordinator J.C. Sherritt brought a lot of pressure from his linebacking corps. There seemed to be a linebacker running up to the line on almost every play. It cost them a couple of times with offside penalties trying to time the snap, but the aggressiveness is something I am happy to see. Watching Global Eteva Mauga-Clements, second-year Brock Mogenson, or newcomer Justin Pace crash that line was exciting to see. Sherritt will play with more aggression as needed in his second season as coordinator. The support from the improved secondary only helps that push.

Linebacker Nick Anderson was noticeable throughout the game and found Calgary running back Terion Stewart for a tackle in the backfield. After missing a lot of last year due to injury, it was great to see the Tulane product back out causing disruption.

“It’s just a blessing,” Anderson said. “When you go through an injury, you go through things like that, you know what it’s like to not have it. So every time you get to step on the field, whether it’s practice or a game, it’s a true blessing, and you look at it with a true sense of gratitude.”

Standouts

A few guys appeared to have helped their chances of making the final roster, including a few receivers who will make some decisions tough for the leadership group.

T.J. Luther was solid in both preseason games. The Florida native spent some time on the practice roster last year, but was playing with the first unit in this second test. He made a couple of excellent catches, including one for 24 yards, and showed off his hands in tight spaces. Texas native Joshua Cephus had another good performance with more focus on the mid-distance yardage this game. Carter Kettyle continues to impress, catching both of his targets and running impeccable routes.

“Really impressive kid,” Kilam said of the University of Alberta product. “He picked up the playbook in about five days for all the spots. He’s out there helping other guys to get lined up that have been here all through training camp. He makes plays. The name of the game is to see who shows up and who makes plays, and that’s what he did.”

I can’t say enough about how much UBC product Skyler Griffith has impressed me. After missing last season with an injury, he has fully embraced the tight end/fullback role and is excelling at it. The Winnipeg native only had one catch on the stat sheet, but it was a rumble for 14 yards, and he looks like a fast barreling train as he goes. I expect to see a lot of him this year in tandem with Justin Rankin.

The backup role at running back is a strong battle. We saw very little of Javon Leake in the preseason, but I expect that to change when the games count. Canadian Isaiah Knight continues to grow in the role and fight for yards when asked. Rookie ShunDerrick Powell has also shown flashes of speed and toughness. The Central Arkansas product totalled 45 yards on eight offensive touches and 70 yards on four returns. I feel like they will both be on the roster in some form.

Defence is where some of the hardest decisions will come. With a young corps of players that have grown together, there are only so many backup spots to be had. Richard Jibunor, the third overall Global Draft pick in 2025, has improved throughout camp and had four tackles on the night, including a sack. In a stacked defensive line, it’s hard to stand out, and yet he has. With the practice roster able to hold three extra global players, the Nigerian should find one of those spots.

Canadian Justin Pace has also made a case to be on the roster in a special teams/linebacker backup role. The 2026 fourth-round pick had a sack in both of the preseason games and a couple of athletic knockdowns. Defensive back Ladarius Tennison has also made a name for himself in the preseason matches. A total of eight tackles in not a lot of time had his speed and tenacity showing through. The Central Florida product added a forced fumble to his film in this game. A solid camp from a lot of players will have the coaches needing to examine the finer details to determine who makes it.

Penalty troubles

I know it is preseason and guys are learning, but this game was covered in penalties. Edmonton was flagged 16 times for 154 yards. Calgary did not fare much better with 12 penalties for 103 yards. That is a lot of coaching moments!

Giving up a field and a half is not exactly conducive to a winning formula. Some, as I mentioned before, were attempts to get ahead of a snap count. Those I can accept early on. The unnecessary roughness and objectionable conduct ones, though, will need to be reeled in.

The refs are also in preseason with some new rules involved, so maybe that contributes. The fact is that this was an issue for the Elks before. They did get it more under control last year, and I expect that to continue as the games start to count.

Now the less fun part…

As training camp comes to an end, the coaches now meet to decide who makes the final roster. Cuts are to be made by 10:00 p.m. local time on May 30 in preparation for the season to open on June 4.

As mentioned, Edmonton will have some tough decisions to make. Hervey has, as he did in his first go-around as GM, brought in quality players to challenge for spots. Kilam goes into his second year of this role with more experience.

“It’s just part of the process,” he said. “They know I appreciate each and every one of them. We had a great camp. They were professionals all the way, but they knew it was a competitive training camp with lots of battles. We have some tough decisions, which is good. Some will be easier than others.”

With the roster formed, the team is back at Clarke to practice for their season opener against Ottawa. After the last few seasons, a good start will be important, both for the standings and to bring fans out to watch an exciting team. Let the games begin!