The Edmonton Elks enter week 3 of their CFL season on the road in the friendly confines of BMO Field when they lock horns with the Toronto Argonauts.    

Although the Edmonton Elks come out of the gate with a 0 – 2 record to begin their respected 2024 CFL season, they have shown a lot of promise with their overall performances in week 1 loss to Saskatchewan (29-21) and also in week 2 to the Montreal Alouettes (23-20).

The main component that has eluded two potential victories for the Edmonton Elks is simple.

Start closing out games, and eliminate the turnovers at the wrong time to seal a victory.

And with that, they enter a difficult situation competing for a victory vs. the Toronto Argonauts with a team that has had only one loss in their last eleven games at home.  That loss was conducted by the Montreal Alouettes who entered BMO Field and walked away with a convincing 38-17 victory over the Toronto Argonauts in the East Final. 

Toronto was completely shell-shocked on November 11th, 2023.  The question for the Edmonton Elks is can they find ways to go into Toronto, and come out with a hard-earned victory against one of the CFL’s list of superior teams?   

Game Details

Date / Location:  Saturday, June 22nd, 2024 / BMO Field / Toronto, Ontario

Kickoff Time:  7:00 pm EST

Channel:  TSN / TSN+ / CBS Sports Network

Weather Forecast:  20 Degrees Celsius.  It will feel like 22 Degrees Celsius—a mix of sun and clouds with showers with a severe thunderstorm warning in effect.

Wind Gust:  17 kilometres per hour

Percentage of Precipitation:  94%

Odds

Spread:  Toronto Argonauts – 4.5 (-110) / Edmonton Elks + 4.5 (-110)

Money line:  Toronto Argonauts – 220 / Edmonton Elks + 180

Over / Under:  Over 49.5 (- 110) / Under (49.5 (-110)

Via Fanduel Sportsbook

Injury Report:  Edmonton Elks

Extended Edmonton Elks Injury Report

Both OL Philip Grohovac and OL Brett Boyko are listed as “available” on the current injury list, they are not slotted in the depth chart.

WR Gavin Cobb, DB / LB Jake Taylor, and WR Kyran Moore are currently three weeks into the six-game injured list at the moment.

Injury Report:  Toronto Argonauts

Key players for the Argonauts that will be out for this game will be DL Folarin Orimolade and WR DaVaris Daniels.

Edmonton Elks Depth Chart

Toronto Argonauts Depth Chart

Players to Watch:  Edmonton Elks

Nyles Morgan

He cemented himself as the heart and soul of the Edmonton defence in 2023.  Nyles Morgan has done everything possible on the Edmonton defence week-in-and-week-out to keep Edmonton with a possibility of a hard-earned victory.

Look for Nyles Morgan to not miss a beat tomorrow vs. Toronto as he will anchor the Edmonton defense.  His 107 tackles in 15 games played in 2023 are a clear indication that he has been a tackling machine for Edmonton.  He is also a versatile LB that can stop the run, and drop back into coverage to make a big tackle, and or break up a pass.

Kurleigh Gittens Jr.

He was part of a trade that occurred on January 15th, 2023 that sent Edmonton fan favourite DL Jake Ceresna to Toronto, in exchange for WR Kurleigh Gittens Jr to Edmonton.

Edmonton felt that they wanted to add more offensive depth entering the 20024 season, while Toronto was looking for the same but in the form of their defensive depth.

Kurleigh Gittens Jr could be a game-changer for the Elks tomorrow night.  The Ottawa, Ontario native via Wilfred Laurier was a key component to the Argonaut’s offence from 2021-2022. During an injury-prone season in 2023, Gittens Jr.’s numbers naturally regressed.  However, he still contributed with 416 receiving yards, and 1 touchdown, in 10 games played.

With two games with the Elks this season, it appears that Kurleigh Gittens Jr is looking good with 155 receiving yards, with 16 receptions.

Players to Watch:  Toronto Argonauts

Ka’Deem Carey

It has been a trend in Toronto in the past four seasons where the Toronto Argonauts have been the Calgary Stampeders of the East Division with the talent pool that has switched their respective colours from red and white, to double blue.

In an era when you have success, you mainly lose as high as 30% of your roster come free agency time.  Gone was RB Andrew Harris (retired), and fan-favorite AJ Ouellette (signed with Saskatchewan), along with KR / RB Javon Leake (signed with Edmonton)

Thus, Toronto signed Ka’Deem “Cash and Carey”.

He is a player that still has a lot of gas left in the tank.  He is a triple back who can run, block, and catch.   Edmonton knows all too well from many years of experience when Ka’Deem Carey was a thorn in their defence.   

Wynton McManis

Staying with the same trend of Calgary players signing with Toronto, Wynton McManis has been a stay-at-home LB who thrives on shutting down the running game.

That’s not to say that he cannot drop back into coverage to help out the secondary either.  He has gotten better in doing so in the form of 4 interceptions in 2023, with 2 of his interceptions going back to the house for a pick-six.

Keys to an Edmonton Victory

Pass Protection

The Argo’s defence will bring the house if they have to during key moments of the game.  Will the Edmonton offensive line be ready enough to absorb enough pressure to buy time for McLeod Bethel-Thompson to hit targets?

Establish a Running Game 

A good passing game is great when it’s working effectively, and it should.  But you don’t win football games against a more overall polished team in the form of the Toronto Argonauts with just the passing game.   The Elks have got to find ways to incorporate both Kevin Brown and Javon Leake more effectively on the offence and not look too predictable.

Prediction

Both teams enter week 3 with a few key injuries from their respected starting units.  But then again, that’s football for you.  Injuries are inevitable.

With the subplot for Edmonton being witnessed similarly for back-to-back weeks for the Elks in 2024, it is a game that they cannot afford to let slip away.

Simply put, they also cannot afford to repeat the last three seasons where they were behind the eight-ball during the first half of the season.

Unless they can play four complete quarters of football, and keep with the pace of the Toronto Argonauts, there is a possibility of an upset here.  

Final Score

Toronto Argonauts:  27

Edmonton Elks:  23

The Edmonton Elks play a much better error-free game at key moments in the game to keep themselves with a good chance of earning a victory on the road in Toronto.

Unfortunately for the Elks, it feels like a game where they might take too many chances that might cost them by leaving precious points off the scoreboard.

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