The Edmonton Elks travel to Montreal to take on the Montreal Alouettes for a week 6 showdown on Thursday, July 14th, 2022.  However, there has been a movement that involved both Edmonton and Ottawa during the end of week 5 that had transpired to what we have now.

During the Ottawa Redblacks game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Mosaic Stadium, Ottawa QB Jeremiah Masoli fell victim to a dirty hit by Saskatchewan DT Garrett Marino.  The outcome for Jeremiah Masoli was a leg injury suffered from the low hit by Garrett Marino.  Jeremiah Masoli would leave the game and not return. Backup QB Caleb Evans would come in relief for Jeremiah Masoli and become ineffective for the remainder of their week 5 game vs Saskatchewan.

The aftermath of the game resulted in Jeremiah Masoli now being out 10 to 12 weeks for the 2022 season.   

Transactions Begun on Monday, July 11th, 2022

Due to the injury to Jeremiah Masoli, Ottawa completed a trade with Edmonton for QB Nick Arbuckle.  Nick Arbuckle’s inconsistent play with Edmonton this season appeared to be evident in which his TD to INT ratio was the reason for the falling victim in a trade to Ottawa.  In 5 games this season, Nick Arbuckle went 75 for 115 in pass completions for a reasonable 892 yards.  The main factor was the fact that he only had 2 TD passes compared to 8 INT.  Add in the Ottawa QB situation being thin at QB, and Ottawa then traded for Nick Arbuckle in which Edmonton will receive a 4th-round round draft pick for the 2023 season.  

With that being said, Edmonton re-signed Regina, Saskatchewan-born QB Michael Beaudry out of the University of Idaho.  Michael Beaudry was on the practice squad with Edmonton this season he was released and brought back on a couple of occasions. 

Nevertheless, QB Taylor Cornelius who has been a healthy scratch all season thus far is now slotted in at QB1.  This is a result of the recent injury vs Calgary in week 5 to QB Tre Ford in which he could miss up to 4 weeks.

Edmonton’s Offense Must Produce

There is no doubt that Edmonton is far from having a good season thus far at just shy of the quarter-season mark.  The same could be said prior to week 4 when going into Hamilton with both teams at the time being 0-3 to start the season.  But though work paid off in upsetting Hamilton 29-25.

Montreal, along with the east division as a whole, is very much underachieving so far in the 2022 season.  The whole east division is 2-13 to start the season. 

Edmonton must capitalize on knocking out a team that has had similar struggles during the 2022 season.  One factor that Edmonton will need to address is trying to establish a running game vs the Montreal front 7.  The Elks had not faired well in gaining yards on the ground.  The running game had been abolished since James Wilder Jr has been placed on the 6-game injured list after the week 3 game vs Hamilton.  Even when James Wilder Jr was playing, RBs have been seldom used in the running game this season and are used more in the passing game.  Edmonton has to find a way to establish a more complete offense moving forward for any improvement.  

Edmonton’s Defense Will Need to Stand Tall

The one benefit for Edmonton this year is that the only time they played an east team was in week 3 in their lone win this year in Hamilton.  Edmonton has been paired up with a lot of talented teams to start the 2022 season in which they played Calgary twice, BC once, and Saskatchewan once.  2 of these games were pretty close which they could have won vs. Saskatchewan in week 2 (lost 26-16), and Calgary in week3 (lost 30-23).

With the QB situation in Montreal not fairing too well either, this can be a time for the Edmonton defense to shine.  Struggles with Vernon Adams Jr and Trevor Harris respectively could benefit an Edmonton defense that has been tested by great QBs so far in Bo Levi Mitchell, Nathan Rourke, Cody Fajardo, and Dane Evans (even though he is struggling).

Can Edmonton Win?

Absolutely Edmonton can win.  But they have to make the most of their opportunities.  They will have to be consistent with moving the ball on the offense and refrain from too many 2 and outs.  If they can sustain longer drives than what they normally have done thus far, and give the defense more rest; Edmonton can win this game in Montreal.

For the defense, apply more pressure.  If the Edmonton defense can apply more pressure on the Montreal passing game, this will benefit the Edmonton offense in field position.  Furthermore, for the defense to shut down the passing attack in either coverage sacks, interceptions, or pass knockdowns.

Stay in tune with CFL News Hub for the 2022 season.