Rookie Elks receiver makes impact
New Elk hopes to build on two-td debut as Edmonton preps for Calgary rematch
Back in training camp, Earnest Edwards made the standout play in the Green and Gold scrimmage, with a circus-style grab down the sideline in coverage.
On Labour Day Monday, the fivefoot-10, 175-pound rookie out of Maine wasted no time in his Canadian Football League debut, scoring a touchdown on the Edmonton Elks' opening drive to set the pace in a 32-20 victory over the rival Calgary Stampeders.
While the sample size is small, all the 23-year-old native of Rochester, N.Y., has done so far is grab onto every opportunity — and football — thrown his way.
Midway through the first quarter, the speedy Edwards caught a 35-yard bomb in stride, taking it the final 10 yards into the end zone, making it look almost too easy for a team that came into the game with just two TDS to show for its first three games.
“Honestly, it was just a great, great throw by Trevor (Harris) by the numbers,” said Edwards, who finished with three catches for 56 yards and his first professional major. “My man was flat-footed a little bit and I just used my speed to go around him. I looked up and Trevor had the ball in the air, perfectly placed for the touchdown.
“Every time I touch the ball, I'm thinking touchdown, honestly. If you're a football player and you're touching the ball and you're not getting touchdowns, then you're doing your job wrong.”
A pattern seems to be emerging with Edwards, who grabbed the spotlight in the first game-like opportunity in training camp to help secure a spot on the roster, then grabbed his first catch for his first touchdown on the biggest stage the Elks play on in the regular season during the back-to-back Labour Day Series.
“It was eight years since we beat them, so I was glad I could help the team get a W and it's been almost 10 years. We really needed it,” Edwards said.
“And I give all the credit to my coaches in just putting me in the right place and the right position at the right time.
“Shout out to them for using me in the correct way, I felt like. I'm out there just working hard, working my butt off. Me trying to make the active roster, it was really complicated for me (with the CFL'S ratio rules), but I just kept my head down, kept pushing. I know God had some plan for me and I just had to wait my turn.”
IS BO A GO?
After sitting out Monday's game with a broken leg, Calgary quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell was taking starter reps in practice Thursday.
And as good as Jake Maier has been in relief, the Stampeders obviously missed Mitchell's presence and leadership in the ebbs and flows on Labour Day.
Elks quarterback Harris wouldn't be one bit surprised to see his Calgary counterpart return from injury in time for Saturday's rematch (5 p.m., TSN, 630 CHED).
“No, I wouldn't be shocked at all,”
Harris said. “If he was practising in full last week, and I'm not sure what his injury was, but it must not have been too extreme if he's practising a couple weeks after.
“I anticipate him playing this week, but you just never know. Maybe it's a facade or whatever, so I've got no clue. But I'm not playing against Bo. My focus is on the Calgary defence and I know that they're going to be bringing it this week.”
The question is whether Mitchell at less than 100 per cent health makes Calgary better than going with a healthy backup.
“I really like the young quarterback, I think Jake Maier did a great job,” Harris said. “But there's no secret, Bo Levi's a multiple-time MVP in this league, a multiple-time Grey Cup champion.
“I don't know if I could have a higher respect for somebody's game than somebody like Bo. I've admired watching him play for a long time.
“But to say (the Stampeders) are better or worse wouldn't be my specialty. I know that Jake did a great job filling in and I think he's got a tremendously bright future in this league. But, obviously, you can't overthink it: Bo Levi is Bo Levi for a reason — and there's a reason he is the highest-paid guy in the league, right?”
In and out: LB Malik Clements (pec) and FB Tanner Green did not practise again this week and aren't expected to play Saturday ... Every one of the 13 players caught up in COVID protocols last week are back in action with the exception of WR Armanti Edwards, who entered this week on the six-game injured list.