EDMONTON – The Edmonton Elks have signed National offensive lineman Brett Boyko to a two-year contract extension and signed American defensive back Donnie Lewis Jr., the club announced Wednesday.
Boyko signed with the Elks in July 2023, following a season with the Orlando Guardians of the XFL. The six-foot-seven offensive lineman appeared in 14 games with Green and Gold, starting 13 games at right tackle. A second round draft pick by the BC Lions in 2015, the UNLV product played in 15 games with the BC Lions in 2019, before suiting up for eight games with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2021.
Previously, Boyko spent time in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles (2015) and the Los Angeles Chargers (2016-18).
Lewis Jr., 27, joins the Elks after spending the 2023 season with the Birmingham Stallions in the United States Football League (USFL), where he had 10 tackles and one interception in five games. This is the second CFL stint for the defensive back, who was signed to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats practice roster late last season.
Welcome to Cleveland, Donnie Lewis!https://t.co/HrKwN5JZA3#BrownsDraft pic.twitter.com/1Xmm56xoKK
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) April 27, 2019
The Louisiana native was originally selected by the Cleveland Browns in the seventh round of the 2019 NFL Draft, spending parts of two seasons (2019-20) with the club. He also had NFL stints with the Cincinnati Bengals (2020-21) and Denver Broncos (2022). Collegiately, Lewis Jr. played four seasons at Tulane University (2015-18), where he registered 160 total tackles, eight interceptions and 37 pass breakups in 46 games for the Green Wave. As a senior in 2018, he was named All-American Athletic Conference Second Team.
2024 marks the 75th season of pro football in Edmonton, as the Elks open a new CFL campaign on Saturday, June 8 against the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Commonwealth Stadium. Season tickets are available now, with all youth season tickets $75 (17 and under) and adult tickets starting at $175.
The Edmonton Elks are proud members of the Canadian Football League, playing their home games at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alberta.
The club, officially renamed the Elks in June of 2021, has a tradition of excellence having won 14 Grey Cup championships (1954-56, 1975, 1978-82, 1987, 1993, 2003, 2005, 2015). Since its founding, the club has been community-owned and remains focused on providing outstanding football memories for Edmonton and all of Northern Alberta.
Elks Football…Our Team. Our City.