If the Edmonton Elks are to end their 18-game home losing streak Sunday when they host the Toronto Argonauts, they know they must find their offense.
The Elks (0-2) are coming off a 22-0 road loss to B.C. Lions in Vancouver on June 17. They lost their season opener 17-13 to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
The defending Grey Cup champion Argonauts (1-0) won their season opener 32-14 at home last Sunday over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
The lack of offense has put a strain on the Edmonton defense.
“Obviously, that’s the big story,” Elks general manager and head coach Chris Jones said. “We’ve got to call a better game. We’ve got to go out and execute at a high level. When you have five or six drops and you have a penalty that kills a drive, and then you have people open and you throw the ball errantly, you have to stay on the field.”
Edmonton receiver Eugene Lewis, who had a 1,303-yard season in 2022 with the Montreal Alouettes, is preaching patience.
“Absolutely, because you have to remember, we have a young team and they haven’t experienced everything I have, and a couple of older guys on the team have,” Lewis said. “I know we’re 0-2 now but it’s very early in the season. Don’t pack it up right now because it’s too early.”
Elks starting quarterback Taylor Cornelius was 13-for-23 passing for 98 yards with one interception against B.C.
Meanwhile, Argos quarterback Chad Kelly passed for 238 yards and rushed for 28 yards and three scores against Hamilton.
After serving as the backup in 2022, Kelly opened the season as the starter for the first time in his career.
“You’ve got to be prepared to play the whole game,” Kelly said. “I had to make sure I trained really hard to be prepared.”
Argonauts coach Ryan Dinwiddie had a simple game plan for Kelly and was impressed with his outing.
“Chad’s a gamer,” Dinwiddie said. “That’s why we chose to bring him in to be our franchise quarterback.”
Toronto will be without defensive back Robert Priester (ankle) on Sunday.
Edmonton defensive back Ed Gainey (chest) was put on the six-game injured list. Receiver Emmanuel Arceneaux (knee) and offensive lineman Cole Nelson (hamstring) will not play Sunday.
–Field Level Media