EDMONTON – The Edmonton Elks have acquired wide receiver Kurleigh Gittens Jr. and a seventh-round pick in the 2024 CFL Draft from the Toronto Argonauts in exchange for defensive lineman Jake Ceresna and the rights to running back Khalan Laborn, the club announced Monday.
Gittens Jr. joins the Green and Gold after four seasons with the Double Blue. Originally drafted by the Argos in the third round (23rd overall) of the 2019 CFL Draft, the 26-year-old appeared in only 10 games in 2023 due to a hip injury suffered in a game against Montreal on September 9, landing him on the six-game injured list to close out the season.
The Canadian receiver has recorded 167 receptions for 2,132 yards and 10 touchdowns in 54 career CFL games.
“Kurleigh is an explosive player who’s had great success up to this point in his career. A team player, a leader with high football IQ and is familiar with McLeod Bethel-Thompson,” said Elks assistant general manager Geroy Simon.
The Wilfrid Laurier product’s best season came in 2022 with McLeod Bethel-Thompson as his quarterback. The pair would be a big part of the Argos championship team that saw them capture the 109th Grey Cup in a 24-23 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The Ottawa, Ont., native was named a CFL All-Star for the first time in his career that season after reaching 1,101 yards receiving and finishing first in the league in YAC (Yards After Catch) with 483. He was runner-up for the Most Outstanding Canadian award in 2022, with former BC Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke.
Gittens Jr. is signed through the 2025 season after signing a three-year extension with Toronto in February 2023.
GITTENS JR. COMES DOWN WITH IT 🚨
His 21-yard touchdown extends the @TorontoArgos lead to 18-6 in the first half.#CFLGameday pic.twitter.com/z0w3rqTBFN
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) September 25, 2022
Ceresna, 29, is coming off his most productive season in the CFL, where he registered 48 defensive tackles and finished tied for first on the Elks and second in the league with 12 sacks. The Cortland State product spent one season with the Ottawa Redblacks before being traded to Edmonton in February 2018. In four seasons with the Elks (2018, 2021-23), Ceresna appeared in 61 regular season games, recording 145 defensive tackles, 35 sacks, six forced fumbles and was named a CFL All-Star in 2022.
Edmonton signed Khalan Laborn to the practice roster in September 2023, and was released prior to the final game of the season.
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.