Anytime a new football season comes to fruition, it’s a beautiful day on the football calendar. This is the day when CFL teams begin their 2026 season, all even at 0-0.
All fanbases and teams are more than excited. It’s a time when there are preseason predictions of who will be at the top of the mountain come November, in obtaining the ultimate prize - The Grey Cup.
Let us be clear on this one, as much as we can say about Saskatchewan, BC, Winnipeg, Calgary, Montreal, and Hamilton all have every right to be in the conversation of a potential Grey Cup Champion; there really isn’t any clear-cut favourite. The parity really is something where anyone could still beat anyone.
With Edmonton, there is no secret. They have been a bad football team. On that note, they made a lot of positive strides in the latter part of the 2025 season that will transition into the 2026 season.
Although they are finally turning a corner, they will be a better team in 2026. The question remains: Can they make the playoffs this season? After all, they also play in the toughest division in the CFL.
The Edmonton Elks will head out east to meet up with the Ottawa Redblacks tomorrow night to open their 2026 season.
Game Details
Date: Saturday, June 6th, 2026
Location: TD Place Stadium / Ottawa, Ontario
Kickoff time: 07:0 PM EST
Channel: TSN, RDS, CBS Sports Network
Stream: CFL +
Weather forecast at kickoff: 16°C. Partly cloudy. It will feel like 15 °C with a wind gust of 44 km/h. P.O.P will be 60%. There is a high risk of scattered thunderstorms during the day into the night.
Odds
Spread: Ottawa Redblacks (- 2.5) – 110 / Edmonton Elks (+2.5) – 110
Moneyline: Ottawa Redblacks – 142 / Edmonton Elks + 118
Over / Under: Over 50.5 – 114 / Under 50.5 – 106
Via FanDuel Sportsbook
Edmonton Elks Depth Chart
Ottawa Redblacks Depth Chart
Injury Reports
Players to watch: Edmonton Elks
RB – Justin Rankin
He is one of the most impressive running backs in the CFL and has been turning heads during the last two seasons. He’s a hard body to halt, whether he is involved in the running game or in the passing attack. He will be in the conversation for the Most Outstanding Player award this season.
LB – Joel Dublanko
When he was drafted in 2024, Edmonton drafted a player for this moment. With his 3rd season approaching, wearing the Green and Gold, he made big strides last season. He is a stud on the Edmonton defence, and he has not hit his stride. The sky is the limit in 2026 for Joel Dublanko.
WR – Austin Mack
He has all the tools to be a premier wide receiver in the CFL. His rookie season in Montreal proved that in 2023 with 78 receptions, 1154 receiving yards, and 4 touchdowns. He has experienced injury troubles in 2024, with only 4 games played. In 2025, he played 12 games with 674 yards and 2 touchdowns.
DL – Malik Carney
He is simply a game-changer if you are the fortunate one to have him on your team. Malik Carney has been one of the best defensive linemen in the CFL, with time spent in both Hamilton and Saskatchewan. Now in Edmonton, he will be a key piece for the Elks’ defence.
Players to watch: Ottawa Redblacks
LB – Nyles Morgan
He is no stranger to Edmonton fans as he played his first five seasons with the Elks. He is a linebacker who can change the tone of the game. He rarely misses an assignment. He is one of the best tacking machines in the CFL.
LB – A.J. Allen
He has been a consistent player on the Saskatchewan defence since being drafted by the Roughriders in 2021. He made big strides and has gotten better every year. It was the icing on the cake for AJ Allan, who was part of the Roughriders Grey Cup-winning team last season. With Morgan and Allan involved in the linebacking core this season in Ottawa, teams will have a difficult time running the ball.
WR – Eugene Lewis
It was a struggle for the Ottawa offence last season as the offensive line allowed the most pressures in 2025. If they can rebound from that in 2026, Eugene Lewis can be an integral part of the Ottawa offence. He has already proven in his days with Montreal and later in Edmonton that he can be a difference maker.
WR/Returner – Kalil Pimpleton
Kalil Pimpleton is simply an exciting player to watch in the CFL. He can break the game open as a wide receiver, along with his talents as a punt and kickoff returner. He will be a thorn to Edmonton if they cannot contain him on explosive plays. He currently has lifetime stats with 1,437 receiving yards with 4 touchdowns, 847 punt return yards with 2 touchdowns, and 972 kickoff return yards entering his 3rd season in the CFL.
Keys to an Edmonton victory:
Win the special team’s battle.
They had done a pretty good job last season, whether they were on the receiving end of a possession or their coverage. It was something that was overlooked last season, with how good the Elks were beginning a scrimmage.
Run the ball.
It will be tough as the Redblacks upgraded their defence on paper. With that said, Justin Rankin is one of the best all-around running backs in the CFL. The Elks should not abandon the running game and be forced to play a one-dimensional offence.
Defence needs to stand tall.
It's no secret that Ottawa has had horrible seasons, just like Edmonton has experienced during the same time span. Ottawa has had a lot of issues in protecting its backfield. The Edmonton defence needs to apply consistent pressure to set the tone in this game.
Prediction
Final Score
It has been a burden with Edmonton for a long time when opening up a new football season. It has become irrelevant whether they began opening at home or on the road. Somehow, some way, this football team need to start on the right track.
Edmonton Elks: 28
Ottawa Redblacks: 23
Edmonton walks into the Nation’s Capital, and walks out with a win to open their CFL season for the first time since the 2019 season, when they defeated Montreal 32-25 in week 1.
It will not be a pretty game, where costly errors will be exposed. However, the Elks will grind out a hard-fought game and will not get discouraged by their mistakes. They will be mentally tough and create a rhythm in all three phases of the game, and control the clock down the stretch.