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Published Jun 06, 2026 • Last updated 1 minute ago • 3 minute read
Edmonton Elks and Toronto Argos at Commonwealth Stadium
The Edmonton Elks' quarterback Cody Fajardo (7) hands the ball off to Justin Rankin (5) during CFL action against the Toronto Argonauts at Commonwealth Stadium, in Edmonton Friday Aug. 15, 2025. Rankin had a touchdown on 13 carries on the Elks season-opening win over the Ottawa RedBlacks on Saturday. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia file
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For the first time in six seasons, the Edmonton Elks won their season opener, 29-21 over the Ottawa Redblacks at TD Place Stadium on Saturday.
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Cody Fajardo completed 23 of 34 passes for 266 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions, while Justin Rankin had 102 yards on 13 rushes and a touchdown, along with five catches for 94 yards, and the Elks won the turnover battle 5-0.
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Last season, the Elks came out of the gates 0-3 on the way to a 1-6 start. The year before that, they began 0-7, which is only marginally better than the way the 2023 season started out at 0-9 — the entire first half of the regular season.
In 2022, they started out 0-3 once again, on the way stumbling into the regular season at 1-4. And 2021 saw them bounce back from an 0-2 start by pulling to an even 2-2, before dropping the following eight games.
The last time the Elks won their season opener was in 2019, on the way to a 2-0 start in the last year that saw them make playoffs. It’s also the first game the Elks have won in June since then.
And going back each of those six season openers, the Elks have had a different starting quarterback, with Trevor Harris followed by Nick Arbuckle, followed by Taylor Cornelius, followed by Macleod Bethel-Thompson, followed by Tre Ford prior to current starter Fajardo.
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Read More
[Edmonton Elks Cody Fajardo runs with the ball against the Calgary Stampeders during CFL preseason action on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Edmonton.
Unlike last year Edmonton Elks going with their best QB to open season](https://edmontonjournal.com/sports/football/cfl/edmonton-elks/edmonton-elks-cody-fajardo-2026-season)
2. [Edmonton Elks Terez Reid gets a hand on Calgary Stampeders Kaylon Horton during CFL preseason action on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Edmonton.
Edmonton Elks wrap up pre-season schedule with Clarke throwback](https://edmontonjournal.com/sports/football/cfl/edmonton-elks/edmonton-elks-wrap-up-pre-season-schedule-with-clarke-throwback)
The Scoring
• T.J. Luther caught a pass for 39 yards to set up the first touchdown of the season, a 10-yard reception in the end zone by Austin Mack to go ahead 10-0 with nine minutes remaining in the half. The three-play, 50-yard touchdown drive came off a turnover on downs when Elks defensive lineman Malik Carney came up with a tackle for a loss on Redblacks running back Daniel Adeboboye.
• Adeboboye punched it in from the one yard-line to trail 13-7, before a 35-yard field goal by Brett Lauther brought them within three heading into halftime. It was the only score of the first half that came outside of the red zone.
• After taking a 19-10 lead into the fourth quarter, Rankin rushed the first snap of a drive 61 yards to the end zone to go ahead 26-10, before the two sides traded field goals.
• Justin Hardy pulled in a 12-yard touchdown reception, before adding a two-point convert to trail 29-21 with three minutes remaining.
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Rough Stuff
• On their second series of the game, Fajardo was hit while sliding feet first by Redblacks defensive back C.J. Revis, resulting in a 15-yard penalty and quite likely a fine.
• Later that same drive, left guard Carter O’Donnell left for the locker-room with the training staff, which bumped David Beard over and brought Mark Korte in to snap.
• Elks middle linebacker Nick Anderson left early in the second quarter with an apparent shoulder injury, followed by defensive lineman Jordan Williams six minutes into the third. Anderson would return to finish the game.
• Elks right guard Coulter Woodmansey had to be helped off the field after injuring his right leg with five minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Next up: The Elks have a bye through Week 2 of the schedule.
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