The Edmonton Eskimos head on the road to take on one of the heavyweights of the Canadian Football League’s finest in the form of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. 

The Elks have begun the season on a losing note again. It has been the case since 2021, when slow starts have been the norm in Edmonton. 

Game Details

Date / Location:  Thursday, June 26th, 2025 / Investors Group Field / Winnipeg, Manitoba 

Kickoff Time:  8:30 PM EST

Channel:  TSN / RDS / CFL + / CBS Sports Network

Weather Forecast:  16 Degrees Celsius.  Feels like 15 Degrees Celsius.  Cloudy.  Wind gusts will be 28 kilometres per hour in a southeast direction. 

Odds

Spread:  Winnipeg Blue Bombers: (- 10.5) -106 / Edmonton Elks (+10.5) -114 

Money line:  Winnipeg Blue Bombers (- 580) / Edmonton Elks (+ 420)

Over / Under: Over 50.5 (-115) / Under 50.5 (-105)

Via FanDuel Sportsbook

Edmonton Elks Depth Chart

Winnipeg Blue Bombers Depth Chart

As of now, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have not unveiled their Week 4 depth chart.

Injury Report:  Edmonton Elks

The Edmonton Elks have the luxury of fielding most of their roster in week 4.  However, this does include two starters on their offensive line on the injury list as follows:

OL, David Beard (Calf) is out.

OL, Mark Korte (Non-injury related) is available.

Injury Report:  Winnipeg Blue Bombers

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers do have key depth players who will not play in week 4, with the following:

RB, Peyton Logan (Thigh) is out.

RB, Brady Oliveria (Shoulder) is out.

LS, Mike Benson (Hip) is out.

WR, Nic Demski (Ankle) is questionable.

WR, Dillion Mitchell (non-injury related) is available.

OL, Micah Vanterpool (Non-injury related) is available.

LB, Jonathan Jones (Non-injury related) is available.

DL, Tanner Schmekel (Non-injury related) is available.

Players to Watch:  Edmonton Elks

Arkell Smith (WR): Offensively, he has been one of the bright spots in his special-teams play.  In only two games played, Arkell Smith has been a solid contributor with 231 return yards on 8 attempts, with an average return of 28.9 yards.

Justin Rankin (RB):  He has been a workhorse for the Elks since his impressive rookie season in 2024.  And it looks like he has not missed a beat.  With the offence struggling in the first half, the Edmonton Elks need a player that they can depend on when it comes to moving the chains.  Justin Rankin is averaging 5.3 yards per carry, along with 8.5 yards per catch.     

Players to Watch:  Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Mathew Peterson (RB):  Filling in for Brady Olivera, Mathew Peterson has been lights out in the Winnipeg backfield with 34 rushing attempts, 172 rushing yards, and 2 touchdowns this season. 

Keric Wheatfall (WR):  Sometimes, a hidden gem comes to fruition.  This is the case with Keric Wheatfall.  With 11 receptions, 213 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, and an impressive 19.4 average yards per catch, he will test the Edmonton secondary.      

Keys to an Edmonton Victory:

Weather the storm.

The Elks have to play conservatively while taking a gamble.  The odds are against them in this game in one of the most hostile environments in the CFL.  The Elks must match the intensity and the flow of the game.  They cannot continue with just a lone field goal and or no points in any quarter.

Special teams, special teams, and more special teams.

Edmonton has got to take points any way they can.  Touchdowns are first on the list.  However, you have to collect as many as you can in the kicking game.  If the Elks can win the start-of-scrimmage battle with a combination of kickoff and punt returns, it will make it a lot easier for the offence to put more points on the board.

Stay within distance. 

Do not get discouraged after a bad series on either side of the ball.  Edmonton must keep pace to steal a win on the road, possibly.  The longer this game stays close going into the 4th quarter, the more it will favour Edmonton.

Prediction

Edmonton will show some great moments in all three phases of the game.  It will come down to the consistency throughout the game that will decide if Edmonton can cause the upset here.

Final Score 

Winnipeg Blue Bombers:  33

Edmonton Elks:  23

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers rarely lose at home.  Unless they have an off day, and the Elks exploit the Bombers on a combination of team mistakes or miscues, it simply does not appear to be this way in week 4.  The Bombers improve to 3-0, while the Elks fall to 0-3.   

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