The Edmonton Elks have scored just 31 points in their first two games of the season. They face the Stampeders in Calgary on Saturday and the Elks hope to have two key pieces for their offense in their lineup.
Wide receiver Derel Walker participated fully in practice this week after missing last week’s 26-16 loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders due to a hand or finger injury. Running back James Wilder Junior, who was limited Wednesday by a shoulder problem, was able to practice hard Thursday.
Read more:
Roughriders win 26-16, add to Elks home misery
The news isn’t so good for starting right tackle Colin Kelly, who will be out Saturday with an ankle injury. Linebacker Brady Sheldon, who recorded eight defensive tackles against the Riders, will not play due to a knee injury.
Arbuckle focused more on a victory than facing his former team
Edmonton Elks starting quarterback Nick Arbuckle will face his old team on Saturday at the Calgary Stampeders.
Arbuckle served as a backup to Bo Levi Mitchell, performing close-range duties during the Stampeders’ 2018 Gray Cup season. In 2019, Arbuckle started seven games for an injured Mitchell and passed for 2,103 yards throwing 11 touchdown passes and five interceptions. .
Arbucle was then traded to the Ottawa Redblacks but never played for the franchise due to the pandemic. He signed with the Toronto Argonauts before the 2021 season and was traded to the Elks in mid-October.
Now the 28-year-old is coming full circle with a start against his former team in Calgary. Arbuckle says his focus is solely on helping the Elks to their first win of the 2022 season.
“I don’t really look too far into the future. I’m just trying to focus on next week,” Arbuckle said.
“Calgary is a very good football team and yes, I was there for a couple of really good years at the beginning of my career.
“I have a lot of love for the players and coaches that are there. At the end of the day, it’s just more reasons to go out there and get a win.”
Edmonton Elks quarterback Nick Arbuckle faces his old team, the Calgary Stampeders, on Saturday.
Arbuckle says there could be an interesting game of chess on Saturday as he and some of the Stampeders defenders know each other so well.
“It’s advantageous to just understand them, having played against their defense and (defensive coordinator) Brent Monson for a couple of seasons,” Arbuckle said.
“They also have a lot of new faces, most of the defensive players that were there when I was there are now in Toronto. It’s a very different-looking defense for the most part, but it’s going to be fun and challenging to go up against guys who know me and have figured out my tendencies when I was there.”
Saturday’s kickoff between the Elks and Stampeders from McMahon Stadium in Calgary will be at 5 p.m.
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