LANGFORD – It’s audition time on the island for the Edmonton Elks.
The Green and Gold are heading to Langford, B.C. for their first of two preseason contests, with Saturday afternoon’s game kicking off at Starlight Stadium at 3:00 PM MT on 880 CHED and CFL+.
The game will be the first tune up for the Elks and, most importantly, the first opportunity for dozens of fresh faces to earn a spot on the 2026 roster. The club will be sending 70 players on the trip, giving Head Coach Mark Kilam and his staff a chance to see as many players as possible before VP of Football Operations and General Manager Ed Hervey has to trim the roster.
For the Double E hopefuls looking to make an impact, training camp been their chance to stack good days together and impress the Elks brass. The final test for the players is to show that they can perform when the lights are on.
For fans of the Double E tuning in to watch or listen to the action, here are a couple storylines to pay attention to on Saturday:
FIRST TEAM O READY TO ROLL
When the Elks offence trots out for their first series against the Lions, expect a lot of familiar faces. Starting quarterback Cody Fajardo has made the trip to Victoria and he will be protected by the potential starting offensive line. New additions such as left tackle Brendan Bordner, right tackle Jordan Murray, and right guard Coulter Woodmansey will see their first action in Edmonton threads — while David Beard and Mark Korte will also see their first game action in their competition for the starting centre role.
Double E fans will also get their first opportunity to see wide receivers Austin Mack and Joe Robustelli hit the field for the team. With so many projected starters in the lineup against B.C., the goal is to build the offensive chemistry early in hopes of avoiding the slow starts that have held back the Elks in recent seasons. With so many top players starting the game for Edmonton, its shaping up to be an interesting start to the preseason for the Green and Gold.
THE DRAFT PICK DEBUTS
While watching the first team starters is an exciting proposition for fans, it’s the next generation of potential Canadian stars that will be intriguing to keep an eye on. The game will be the first CFL action for top Elks draft picks in linebacker Dariel Djabome (third overall, 2026), defensive back Benjamin Sangmuah (12th overall, 2026), defensive lineman Darien Newell (10th overall, 2025), and wide receiver Carter Kettyle (21st overall, 2026).
Kettyle, in particular, has been impressive so far in camp. The U of A product has hauled in several big receptions in the team drills while playing with the second and third team offence, but a strong performance in Langford could open the door to an even bigger role for Kettyle as a rookie.
On the other side of the ball, Djabome, Sangmuah, and Newell will have a chance to show if they can become core members of the defence in 2026 and beyond. The defenders bring outstanding size for their positions, fitting that fast and physical prototype the Elks have continued to look for.
Djabome should factor in early, slotting behind veteran Nick Anderson on the depth chart, and should see significant reps in BC – while Sangmuah sits behind second-year defender Kenny Logan Jr. to begin the game.
QUICK NOTES
In good news for the rookies, CFL Most Outstanding Player and Victoria native Nathan Rourke won’t be suiting up for the Lions, with backup Chase Brice expected to get the start. The Lions are dressing a rookie-laden roster, with former Elk Hergy Mayala among the few veterans dressing for the home side.