Big plays? You bet. The Edmonton Elks are tops in the Canadian Football League through five weeks of action in 2025 when it comes to the statistical category. The Elks, who earned their first win of the season on Sunday with a 39-33 home win over the Ottawa RedBlacks, lead the league with 16 of them, two better than both the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Toronto Argonauts. A ‘big play’ is a rush that goes for more than 20 yards, a pass that goes for more than 30 yards, a punt return that is more than 30 yards, a kickoff return that is more than 40 yards, a missed field goal that is returned for more than 30 yards or a missed convert that is returned for more than 50 yards. “We’ve got some guys that are some of the best in the league, and I think they’re starting to show that,” running back Justin Rankin told media after practice on Wednesday at Commonwealth Stadium. “It just took some gelling and getting to know each other, practising and playing with each other.” Edmonton certainly delivered a few of them in Sunday’s win, including a 74-yard scamper by Rankin for a third-quarter touchdown, a pass to him from Tre Ford for a 45-yard gain, a 46-yard reception by running back Javon Leake and a 94-yard punt return for a touchdown also by Leake. Head coach Mark Kilam said Wednesday while the feeling around the team was positive after the win that gave the Elks a 1-3 record on the season, he and his staff soon got back to work on preparing for their next game on Sunday against the visiting B.C. Lions. “The process doesn’t change as far as looking at the corrections and what we have to do,” Kilam said. “Really, that starts the next day after the game. You’ve got that night, win or lose, to feel what you feel and then you move forward the next day.” Beard returns to practice field Centre David Beard was back at practice Wednesday after missing the last two games with a leg injury. Beard was injured during the Elks’ loss June 19 to the Montreal Alouettes. Kilam said there is no timeline for Beard’s return to game action.
