Royce Metchie returns for Edmonton Elks against Roughriders

Photo courtesy: Dale MacMillan/Edmonton Elks

The Edmonton Elks will have Canadian defensive back Royce Metchie in the lineup when they visit the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Thursday night. The team released its official depth chart on Wednesday morning.

The 29-year-old hasn’t played since last September, when he suffered an Achilles injury that ended his season. He made 31 defensive tackles over 10 regular-season games in 2025 as Edmonton’s starting safety.

The five-foot-eleven, 203-pound defender was originally a third-round in the 2018 CFL Draft out of the University of Guelph. He has since played 94 career regular-season games with the Calgary Stampeders, Toronto Argonauts, and Elks, making 341 defensive tackles, 13 special teams tackles, five forced fumbles, two interceptions, and one touchdown.

Metchie will dress in a depth role at safety behind Chelen Garnes, who has made 22 defensive tackles and one sack through six starts this year.

The Elks have been forced to make a change along their offensive line, as Carter O’Donnell has been moved to the one-game injured list. Brett Boyko, who is coming off the six-game injured list, will start in his place at left guard.

Boyko has played 71 career regular-season CFL games as a member of the B.C. Lions, Saskatchewan Roughriders, and Elks. The six-foot-seven, 305-pound native of Saskatoon made 16 starts for the Elks at right tackle last season. The 33-year-old started his career with the Philadelphia Eagles and San Diego Chargers, dressing for one regular-season game in 2017.

The Elks have also activated Canadian receiver Carter Kettyle and American linebacker Brock Mogensen.

Kettyle was the team’s third-round pick in the 2026 CFL Draft out of the University of Alberta and will dress in a depth role. Mogensen is listed at middle linebacker behind Dariel Djabome, the team’s first-round pick out of Rutgers University.

Edmonton has also moved Canadian receiver Zach Mathis to the reserve roster, and American linebacker Jadon Pearson and Canadian defensive back Tyshon Blackburn to the practice roster.

The Elks and Roughriders are currently the two top teams in the West Division standings. This will mark the first of three regular-season meetings between the clubs in 2026.

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The Edmonton Elks (5-1) will visit the Saskatchewan Roughriders (4-1) at Mosaic Stadium on Thursday, July 23 with kickoff scheduled for 9:00 p.m. EDT. The Elks survived a late scare to beat the B.C. Lions this past week, while the Roughriders were on bye.

The weather forecast in Regina calls for a high of 31 degrees and sun. The game will be broadcast on TSN and RDS2 in Canada, CBS Sports Network in the United States, and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune in on 880 CHED in Edmonton or 620 CKRM in Regina.