Barlow, Newell sink Edmonton Elks defense with 2026 Achilles tears

The edmonton elks will be without Brandon Barlow and Darien Newell for the entire 2026 season after both defensive linemen suffered Achilles tears in preseason. The twin losses hit a unit that expected rotation help from both players before the regular season starts.

Barlow’s 2025 run

Barlow arrived as a free agent in 2025 and became one of the more productive pieces on the defensive front. He played 18 regular-season games last season and finished with 35 defensive tackles, two sacks, one forced fumble and one interception.

The veteran American defensive end had not been projected as a starter, but Edmonton expected him to be part of the rotation. Losing that kind of depth before the final week of preseason leaves the line thinner than planned.

Newell’s draft path

Newell’s setback is different, but the impact lands in the same place. The rookie Canadian defensive tackle was taken 10th overall in the 2025 CFL Draft, then barred from signing a contract last season after testing positive for nine banned substances during the Combine.

He was still expected to contribute after entering this year’s camp, which made the preseason injury another blow to a defense already sorting out its roster. Edmonton now has to move on without the two linemen it had penciled in for work up front.

Boyko, Sangmuah add pressure

The injuries come with more roster strain. Veteran Canadian offensive tackle Brett Boyko is set to start the season out because of a hand issue, and Benjamin Sangmuah will join him on the six-game injured list after a knee injury.

Kaion Julien-Grant and Joe Robustelli are expected to be ready for Week 1 despite minor training camp injuries, so the offense keeps some stability while the front office handles the missing pieces elsewhere. The next checkpoints are Friday’s preseason game against the Calgary Stampeders, final roster cuts on Saturday, and the regular-season opener against the Ottawa Redblacks on Saturday, June 6.