The Ottawa Redblacks suffered a 40-17 defeat to the Edmonton Elks at Commonwealth Stadium on Thursday night, marking their fifth consecutive loss to start the 2026 CFL season and their 11th straight defeat dating back to last year. The Elks improved to 4-1 behind a dominant performance from running back Justin Rankin, who scored three touchdowns, and four interceptions thrown by Redblacks quarterback Jake Maier.
Early struggles and defensive effort
Ottawa's offense managed only two first downs in the opening quarter, while the Elks took a 7-0 lead on an eight-play, 65-yard drive capped by Rankin's second-down touchdown run. Despite the slow start, the Redblacks defense and punter Noah Gettman kept the game close, limiting Edmonton to a seven-point lead after 15 minutes. Gettman's well-placed punts pinned the Elks deep, preventing them from capitalizing on poor field position.
Rankin's first touchdown came on a 19-yard run where he initially found no holes up the middle but bounced left, evading a tackle attempt by cornerback Demerio Houston to sprint into the end zone. The Redblacks' defense had opportunities to stop the play but failed to bring Rankin down.
Maier's turnovers prove costly
Maier completed 26 of 39 passes for 293 yards and a touchdown, but his four interceptions undermined any offensive momentum. The first turnover came on a third-and-10 gamble late in the game, leading to Rankin's 33-yard screen pass touchdown that put Edmonton up by 13 points with 6:30 remaining. Maier threw his third pick on the next possession, and Rankin added a 31-yard touchdown run before Maier turned the ball over one final time as the clock expired.
“We made too many mistakes, especially in the second half,” said a Redblacks source. “Four interceptions is unacceptable, and we need to clean that up.”
Elks' offensive firepower
Edmonton quarterback Cody Fajardo connected with Kaion Julien-Grant on a four-yard touchdown pass with 12 minutes left, extending the Elks' lead to 23-14. Ottawa responded with a 27-yard field goal by Brett Lauther, who remained perfect on the season at 14-for-14 on field goals. However, Rankin's explosive plays sealed the win for Edmonton.
Rankin, who also scored in the season-opening 29-21 victory over Ottawa at TD Place, finished with multiple touchdowns on the ground and through the air. The Elks improved to 4-1 after finishing last in the CFL West Division with a 7-11 record in 2025.
Looking ahead for Ottawa
The Redblacks have a week off before hosting the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Sunday, July 19, at TD Place. Head coach and staff must address the lack of a running game, poor tackling, and quarterback consistency. Veteran McLeod Bethel-Thompson made his Redblacks debut on the final series Thursday night, potentially signaling a change under center.
“We have a lot of corrections to make,” the source added. “The next game is a chance to turn things around.”
