Before we look at the Week 17 game preview, we turn our attention to the Edmonton Elks Football Club with some sad news. Owner Larry Thompson passed away yesterday after complications during a surgery.
The Edmonton Elks unveiled the following statement:
It is with heavy hearts that the Edmonton Elks Football Club announce the passing of our owner, Larry Thompson. We are devastated to have to deliver this news.
“Although I had the privilege of working with Larry for less than a year, his impact on me—and on our entire organization—was profound,” EE President and CEO Chris Morris said. “Larry’s toughness and direct nature were matched only by his genuine care for every person connected to the Double E. He led with clarity, courage, and an unwavering belief in people. We will do everything in our power to carry his example with us as we rebuild this franchise in his honour.”
Owning the Double E was the realization of a lifelong goal for Thompson, who grew up a passionate supporter of the Club since his attending his first game in 1972. Larry’s legacy within the organization is immeasurable. Alongside his family, they are responsible for saving and stabilizing the franchise he held dear for over 50 years.
The ownership of the Edmonton Elks franchise will remain with Deb Thompson, who is steadfast in her dedication to carry on Larry’s vision to revive the Double E as a pillar in the Edmonton sports scene and a leader in the community.
“Our family is devastated with the loss of our anchor,” Deb Thompson said. “Larry was a legend and our family will continue his legacy far beyond our lifetimes. Owning EE was a life long dream; my only regret is that he isn’t here to enjoy it. I will continue to support the club and community as it has become my dream as well as that of our family.”
Larry suffered complications following surgery. He fought a hard battle for many weeks but the complications were too severe. The family wishes for privacy in their time of mourning.
The unveiling of Larry Thompson as the Club’s first private owner in August of 2024 was the culmination of a months-long ownership review intended to bring long-term stability to the organization. In his first year at the helm, Thompson invested heavily in the operations of the club and greatly expanded the club’s community resources, with strong charitable outreach within Northern Alberta being a pillar of the Thompson family’s vision when acquiring the Elks.
Upon purchasing the Club, Thompson stated:
“My family and I can’t wait to bring our passion for the team to the table as owners and build on the Club’s proud history of excellence.”
“My promise to our fans is that I’ll do everything in my power to ensure the Club has the resources to be the best in the CFL and provide a product our fans can be proud of.”
Thompson acquired the means to purchase the Edmonton Elks when he sold the Thompson Construction Group in 2023. Over four decades of his leadership, Thompson grew the Spruce Grove-based company to include 1,500 employees and 2,000 pieces of equipment.
Larry Thompson’s legacy within the club is undeniable as a saviour of his childhood team. He will be sorely missed.
The Edmonton Elks fell short again last week with a 29-27 loss in Hamilton. They put up a big fight against one of the CFL’s best, who are hitting a stride again late in the 2025 season. Edmonton will now face the CFL’s elite when it hosts the Saskatchewan Roughriders in a must-win game to keep its playoff hopes alive.
Game Details
Date: Saturday, September 27th, 2025
Location: Commonwealth Stadium / Edmonton, Alberta
Kickoff time: 7:00 PM EST
Channel: TSN
Stream: CFL +
Weather forecast at kickoff: 7 °C. It will feel like 5 °C. Partly cloudy with a chance of evening rain.
Wind gust: 44 kilometres per hour in a north direction.
Possibility of precipitation: 40%
Odds
Spread: Saskatchewan Roughriders (-3.5) – 122 / Edmonton Elks (+3.5) + 100
Moneyline: Saskatchewan Roughriders – 210 / Edmonton Elks + 172
Over / Under: Over 54.5 (-110) / Under 54.5 (-110)
Via FanDuel Sportsbook
Game Notes
In week 8, Cody Fajardo faced his former team for the first time and passed for a season-high 346 yards.
He has not thrown an interception in his last 125 passing attempts.
Justin Rankin leads the league with 14 big plays.
In the past six games, Joel Dublanko has two sacks and 42 defensive tackles, including a career-high 11 last week.
Saskatchewan’s KeeSean Johnson is 31 receiving yards shy of his first 1,000-yard season.
A.J. Ouellette is 58 rushing yards from his second career 1,000-yard campaign. He also has 19 career rushing majors.
In week 15, his third game back in the CFL, Ajou Ajou collected eight receptions for 95 yards.
The Riders allowed a season-high 48 points last game (vs. Montreal) and included 5 TD drives, an opponent season high.
The Alouettes rushed for 152 yards in that game, which was the most in 2025 by a Saskatchewan opponent.
Saskatchewan is # 2 in the CFL with a + 6 turnover ratio. In their 10 wins, they have a ratio of + 12, and in their three losses, they are a – 6.
Edmonton comes in at # 3 in the T/O ratio in 2025 at + 5.
Game notes courtesy of the CFL.
Edmonton Elks Depth Chart
Saskatchewan Roughriders Depth Chart
Injury Reports
Players to watch: Edmonton Elks
RB – Justin Rankin
He has been the heartbeat of the Edmonton offence this season. If the running game is ineffective, he can burn you with his yards after the catch in the passing game.
DB – Tyrell Ford
Tyrell Ford will need a big game tomorrow night. Even if it is not obvious, what fans look for in statistics in the interception department. Tyrell Ford will need to create forced fumbles, jump fumble recoveries, and key tackles to halt a Saskatchewan drive.
QB – Cody Fajardo
He doesn’t need to be perfect in this game, but he has to play smart, effective football. If the offensive coaching staff can add in a few plays that will give a different look to the Saskatchewan defence, the Elks need to pounce on this approach. Cody Fajardo kept the game close the last time they played the Roughriders, minus the immense number of sacks he faced.
Players to watch: Saskatchewan Roughriders
WR – Ajou Ajou
He has shown the CFL since arriving in this league via the draft in 2024 that he will be a special player in the future. For a player entering his second season, his football awareness and IQ are well ahead of his development. His raw talent can change the game for your team.
RB – A.J. Ouellette
He is a workout freak who looks for contact and does not shy away from it. He has the skill, heart, and mindset to wear down a team. If he gets hot, Edmonton will have to find a solution to stall A.J. Ouellette.
DL – Malik Carney
He is one of the best in the CFL at stopping or closing down the running lanes. His 7 sacks this season will be in double-digits at season’s end.
Keys to an Edmonton victory:
Cause problems on the Saskatchewan offence.
There is no surprise that Edmonton will need all of the wins that they can get. In retrospect, they most likely need to run the table to have a chance to make the playoffs. It is a tall task. Their margin for error has been slim now with the back-to-back losses. They have to be aggressive on the Saskatchewan offence.
Match the Saskatchewan running game.
They are a tough team to stop against the run. If it becomes a running game attack for both teams, Edmonton must stop the Saskatchewan running game when it matters most.
Stay within distance.
Keep plugging away. Don’t let the scoreboard become too much of a challenge if Edmonton has difficulties in stopping Saskatchewan.
Win the field position.
It is the unsung hero in the three phases of football. It’s important to create a short field to your advantage, facing a very talented Saskatchewan team.
Prediction
The Elks will be playing this game with heavy hearts. The Elks have improved dramatically post-week 8. They fell short in 4 games this season, which could have been wins. Expect a closer game than people think.
Final score:
Saskatchewan Roughriders: 26
Edmonton Elks: 24
Part of me believes that Edmonton can cause an upset here. You have to look at the last two games played, where Edmonton either left too much time on the clock for a team to counter with key points, or they misfired when they were unable to put more points on the board and fell short.
