After experiencing their first defeat of the season last week in BC, the Edmonton Elks will look to get back into the win column tonight at home vs. the Ottawa Redblacks.
Game Details
Date: Thursday, July 9th, 2026
Location: Commonwealth Stadium / Edmonton, Alberta
Kickoff time: 9:00 PM EST
Channel: TSN, RDS
Stream: CFL +
Weather forecast at kickoff: 18°C with sun and clouds. There is a chance of showers. It will feel like 18 °C with a wind gust of 8 km/h from the southeast. P.O.P will be 40%.
Odds
Spread: Edmonton Elks (-6.5) – 110 / Ottawa Redblacks (+6.5) – 110
Moneyline: Edmonton Elks – 300 / Ottawa Redblacks + 240
Over / Under: Over 57.5 – 114 / Under 57.5 – 106
Via FanDuel Sportsbook
Game Notes.
With a lifetime record of 52-37-1, Cody Fajardo owns Ottawa with a 10-1 record, along with a 112.8 QB rating.
Protection at its finest: The Elks have allowed only 3 sacks in 4 games this season. They are tied with Montreal this season for the fewest in the league.
Ottawa is the worst team in the league with 13 turnovers. 6 of those turnovers have been on downs.
Ottawa’s Nyles Morgan leads the CFL with 31 defensive tackles and is on pace for 140 in 2026. He can challenge the record held by Solomon Elimimian at 144.
Source: CFL
Edmonton Elks Depth Chart
Ottawa Redblacks Depth Chart
Injury Reports
Players to watch: Edmonton Elks
RB – Justin Rankin
He is the workhorse for the offence. He is intelligent, dynamic, and creative. His dual-threat capabilities will be difficult for Ottawa to keep him in check. He was a non-factor last week in BC in the running game. However, he still made some big plays with his receiving skills.
LB – Joel Dublanko
The former University of Cincinnati Bear Cat has been a standout for the Edmonton defence with his breakout season last year. His instincts to read a play are extraordinary. Joel Dublanko will play a key part in stopping the Ottawa running game.
DB – Chelan Garnes
Entering his 2nd season in the CFL, and both with the Elks, Chelan Garnes has played a big role in the defensive secondary by breaking up key passes towards the Edmonton defence. He might not be a ball hog in obtaining an interception, but he is due for one sooner rather than later.
WR – Austin Mack
Austin Mack has made some big plays collectively for Edmonton this season. When Edmonton acquired Austin Mack, they were looking to add depth on a playmaker who can break the game open. He is on pace to match or supersede his stats from his rookie year in Montreal in 2023. With 20 receptions, 273 receiving yards, and 3 touchdowns this season, he is a receiver that can expose Ottawa’s defence.
Players to watch: Ottawa Redblacks
WR / PR / KR – Kalil Pimpleton
Entering his 3rd season in the CFL, Kalil Pimpleton already has 2,544 punt and kickoff return yards. To put this in perspective, he has done this with only 30 games played.
LB – Nyles Morgan
Edmonton fans know all too well about Nyles Morgan. He was a great linebacker when he donned the Green and Gold. He is one of the best linebackers in the CFL. He is a smart linebacker who can adapt quickly when defending the passing game or the running game. He is also known as “the tackling machine”.
RB – Greg Bell
Playing on a struggling team is often difficult to run the ball. In the case of Greg Bell, he can break a game open for the Redblacks. He might only have 114 rushing yards from 29 carries entering week 6. However, he is sill carries a 3.94 yards per carry. He had two good seasons in Hamilton before heading to Ottawa. If he gets hot, it will be a long day for Edmonton.
DB – CJ Reavis
He was one of the cornerstones in the Saskatchewan defence from 2023 – 2025. He plays with a high intensity and a keen eye on where the ball will be. It's been a struggle for Ottawa as a whole this year on the defence. CJ Reavis is a player that can change the tone of the game.
Keys to an Edmonton victory:
Do not take Ottawa lightly.
Just because they are winless at 0-4, they will be a desperate team throwing all the stops at Edmonton. Sometimes a desperate team is always a dangerous team. In the case of Ottawa, they will have a must-win mentality. If there is any indication, look at Week 4, when Ottawa scored an impressive 29 points in the 2nd half and almost completed the comeback vs. Montreal.
Take advantage of Ottawa.
It won’t be the same as it was for Edmonton when they face Ottawa in Week 1 to a certain degree. What was impressive for the Elks as a whole was their ability to physically outplay the Redblacks for the majority of the game. This Ottawa team makes a lot of mistakes and is inconsistent. It's important for Edmonton to fully expose and exploit Ottawa in this game.
Own the line of scrimmage.
The secret for success this year has been the offensive line. It has been a long time coming for Edmonton to be a football team that can dictate plays from the strength of the offensive line. For the defensive line, continue what has worked. Ottawa lacks protection. Take advantage of what is given to you.
Run the ball.
If they avoid mental breakdowns at the wrong moments, there is no reason why the running game should not be the engine that runs the offence. You have the best all-round running back in Justin Rankin. The offensive line has done a great job this year in opening the lanes.
Be smart on special teams’ coverage.
If there is a player to watch out for on special teams for Ottawa, then it will be Kalil Pimpleton. He can cause a lot of damage in the open field. It’s going to be difficult to contain him. He will probably score a touchdown from either a kickoff or a punt return in this game. For Edmonton, they have to limit his success.
Prediction
Final Score
Edmonton Elks: 35
Ottawa Redblacks: 20
The mistakes by Ottawa will be on display, and Edmonton will capitalize on Ottawa’s misfortunes. Edmonton will not take this game for granted and will be dominant for all three phases of the game.