Veteran Mark Korte steps back into Edmonton Elks’ starting lineup against B.C.

Photo courtesy: Edmonton Elks.

The Edmonton Elks will have two new starters in the trenches on Friday when they face off against the B.C. Lions.

Centre David Beard (calf) and defensive tackle Jordan Williams (upper arm) have both been placed on the six-game injured list after being formally ruled out on Wednesday.

On offence, veteran Mark Korte will step in as the snapper after losing the battle with Beard in training camp. The 30-year-old has played 125 career regular-season games as a member of the Redblacks and Elks. Rookie Chris Pashula will draw onto the roster as the sixth man.

Defensively, Tomari Fox has been upgraded to the starting spot after recording three defensive tackles in four games. Rookie Gavin Meyer will dress as part of the rotation.

Elsewhere on the roster, Global linebacker Tyron Vrede has been placed on the one-game injured list with a knee issue after making two special teams tackles in his debut. Canadian rookie Justin Pace will return to the lineup in his place. Edmonton will also swap backup Canadian receivers, as Zach Mathis dresses this week and rookie Carter Kettyle returns to the reserve roster.

The Edmonton Elks (4-1) will host the B.C. Lions (1-3) at Commonwealth Stadium on Friday, July 17, with kickoff scheduled for 9:00 p.m. EDT. The Lions are coming off a bye week, while the Elks dominated the Ottawa Redblacks in a 40-17 win at home.

The weather forecast in Edmonton calls for a high of 29 degrees and sun. The game will be broadcast on TSN and RDS2 in Canada and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune in on 730 CKNW (English) or Sher-E-Punjab Radio AM 600 (Punjabi) in Vancouver or 880 CHED in Edmonton.

Eligible sports bettors in Ontario and Alberta can find relevant information for wagering on the game by clicking on their respective jurisdiction.