The Ottawa Redblacks and Edmonton Elks have reason for optimism as they kick off their respective CFL regular seasons in Canada’s capital on Saturday.
Sure, the Redblacks (4-14 in 2025) and Elks (7-11) finished in the basement of their respective divisions a year ago. That said, Ottawa desires to get off to a fast start while playing five of its first seven games at home, while Edmonton has high hopes after playing well in the latter half of last season.
“If you want to be a championship team, you’ve got to win your home games,” new Redblacks starting quarterback Jake Maier said on Thursday, per the Ottawa Citizen. “… We want to make sure we’re putting on a good performance for (the fans), and, obviously, when you win enough home games, it sets you up pretty nicely throughout the season.
“So, yeah, playing at home is a great luxury, and you’ve got to take advantage of that.”
Maier, a six-year veteran with stops in Calgary (2020-24) and Saskatchewan (2025), has replaced Dru Brown as the team’s starter. He is expected to rely on offseason addition Greg Bell in the backfield. Bell led the East Division in rushing with 1,038 yards while reeling in 62 passes — a CFL-best for running backs — for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Ryan Dinwiddie will wear many hats this season, that being the Redblacks’ general manager, head coach and offensive coordinator. He previously helped the Toronto Argonauts qualify for the playoffs in four of five seasons while serving as their head coach, winning two Grey Cups.
“We preach culture and expectations, and all those things (like) how we want to practice, how we want to look on offense, defense, special teams … so that’s all been laid out for them,” Dinwiddie said. “It’s tough when you’ve lost for a few years and then the guys don’t know how to win, but they don’t know how not to lose. So that’s the one thing we’ve been preaching this camp.”
Edmonton, which last won its season opener in 2019, has struggled mightily from the onset to start the last few seasons. The Elks were 0-9 in 2023 and 0-7 in 2024 before losing six of their first seven games in 2025.
Edmonton head coach Mark Kilam isn’t interested in past failures, however.
“We’re just trying to focus on the things we can control, and that’s how we prepare out here on the field,” Kilam said.
Cody Fajardo is on the cusp of several milestones, as he’s three touchdown passes shy of 100 and two rushing scores short of 50. The nine-year veteran of five different CFL teams boasts a sparkling 9-1 record versus Ottawa.
Elks running back Justin Rankin led the league last season in total yards from scrimmage (1,726).
–Field Level Media
