Edmonton Elks vs Ottawa Redblacks July 19, 2024 PHOTO: André Ringuette/Freestyle Photography
The Ottawa REDBLACKS return home tonight to face the Edmonton Elks at TD Place, in a critical matchup as the CFL playoff race heats up. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
The challenge of a red-hot Elks team becomes even steeper without starting quarterback Dru Brown, who is sidelined with a knee injury. Dustin Crum, who provided a spark off the bench last week with both a passing and rushing touchdown, gets his third start of the season. The REDBLACKS will also be without receiver Bralon Addison, linebacker Davion Taylor, as well as defensive backs Bennett Williams and Justin Howell, all of whom suffered injuries in last week’s last-second loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Ottawa will be looking to start faster after falling behind again early last week, but despite the injury to Brown near the end of the first half, the REDBLACKS clawed their way back to tie it at 27-27 late. A touchdown catch by Justin Hardy, and electric 117-yard missed field goal return touchdown by Kalil Pimpleton brought the score to even, and King Ambers’ first career interception kept the momentum going, but the comeback was spoiled by a last-second field goal.
Ambers makes his first career start tonight, at halfback, while Deandre Lamont moves into the safety spot, and Ace Eley dresses at middle linebacker, with Jovan Santos-Knox sliding over to will. Andre Miller draws back into the lineup for Addison.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Edmonton arrives in Ottawa on a two-game winning streak, powered by stability at quarterback with Cody Fajardo and the emergence an offence finding its way. The Elks’ offensive line is also coming off its best performance of the year, keeping the pocket clean and allowing no sacks in last week’s 28-20 win over the Toronto Argonauts.
Defensively, linebacker Nyles Morgan continues to set the tone, anchoring a unit that has grown more consistent over the past month.
IN THEIR WORDS
BOB DYCE, HEAD COACH, ON HOW CRUCIAL THIS GAME IS: “Right now, when you look at where things are, every game is a four-point game for us. These guys know how important and how crucial this (one) is with an Edmonton team having the same record as us for us to go forward.”
DUSTIN CRUM, QUARTERBACK, ON STARTING VS. EDMONTON: “I definitely think it’s a tremendous opportunity. Obviously, whenever we get to play in front of our fans and get to feed off them and the momentum they can help bring us, I think it can give us a little bit of an edge in those games … not having to deal with some of the crowd noise and adversity you deal with in places line Winnipeg and Sask. It definitely helps a little bit. And where we are in the season right now, there are a lot of tight battles that are going to be huge to push for those playoff spots. So, there’s definitely a sense of urgency there.”
BROADCAST INFO
WATCH: TSN 1/5, RDS (FR)
STREAM: CFL+
LISTEN: TSN 1200, 104.7 FM OUTAOUAIS (FR), SIRIUSXM (ch.167)
