The Edmonton Elks open their 2023 season against longtime prairie rivals the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Sunday at Commonwealth Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. MST.
GAME DETAILS
| Kickoff | 5:00 p.m. MT |
| Gates open | 4:00 p.m. MT |
| Game theme | Home Opener | Canadian Armed Forces Appreciation |
| Gameday sponsor | International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 955 |
| Pre-game flyover | CH-146 Griffon from 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron |
| Broadcasts | 630 CHED and TSN |
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After consecutive years of missing the playoffs, the Elks are targeting a postseason return in 2023, and look to set themselves on that path by winning on home turf for the first time since 2019.
There is great enthusiasm within the herd, after a pair of preseason games that hinted at a bright future and provided plenty of reason for optimism, with the play of newcomers and familiar faces alike.
That starts under centre, where Elks quarterback Taylor Cornelius begins the season as No. 1 on the depth chart in his CFL career.
The last time Edmonton played Saskatchewan, in Regina on Sept. 16, 2022, Cornelius led Edmonton to a 26-24 comeback win. He was named one of the CFL Top Performers of the Week following that game, in which had three completions for 38 yards on a drive to put Edmonton in position for the game-winning field goal with 24 seconds left.
The 27-year-old Cornelius now has arguably the best group of pass-catchers in the CFL at his disposal, as Edmonton made a massive splash in free-agency during the offseason by signing receivers Steven Dunbar, Eugene Lewis, and Kyran Moore.
Lewis was the East Division’s finalist for Most Outstanding Player last season, after catching 91 passes for 1,303 yards as a member of the Montreal Alouettes. On Tuesday, the 30-year-old from Pennsylvania was ranked second on TSN’s list of the 2023 Top 50 CFL Players.
That’s our guy @GENOALLDAY7 😤#OurTeamOurCity #GoElks @CFL @TSN_Sports pic.twitter.com/ZSMJb6E24Q
— Edmonton Elks (@GoElks) June 8, 2023
Three other Elks players appeared in the Top 50, all whom will factor largely into Edmonton’s success this season. Defensive lineman Jake Ceresna, fresh of his first CFL All-Star campaign, appears at No. 17. Meanwhile running back Kevin Brown and wide receiver Dillon Mitchell, who both joined the Elks in midseason last year and made immediate impact, were ranked 43rd and 47th, respectively.
Another receiver to keep on eye on in 2023 is revered veteran Manny Arceneaux. Last year’s recipient of the CFLPA’s Tom Pate Award recognizing outstanding sportsmanship and significant contribution to team and community. Arceneaux is poised for a big ascent on the CFL’s all-time receiving leaderboards. He’s just five receptions from tying Jermaine Copeland for 23rd in CFL history. and needs just 69 receiving yards to become the 30th player in CFL history with 9,000 in his career.
Edmonton is playing at home on a Sunday evening in the regular season for the first time since 2010. The evening will be an emotional one, as the Elks pay tribute to their late teammate Christian Saulsberry, who was tragically killed last December.