Elks Game: Kilam says all dressed will play in Clarke Stadium finale
The Edmonton Elks will close their elks game preseason schedule Friday at Clarke Stadium against the Calgary Stampeders, and coach Mark Kilam says every player who dresses will get into the contest. The 7 PM MT kickoff gives roster hopefuls one last live audition before the regular season begins next week.
Mark Kilam at Clarke Stadium
Kilam said the team has kept that approach through camp: “We’ve done that all through training camp, we’ve been rolling everybody through training camp, because we stressed that at the start.” He added, “We gave guys a real opportunity to make this football team and show what they can do, show that they can line up at multiple spots, and learn the offence, learn the defence, learn the special teams, and we’re sticking to that philosophy in this game.”
That means the preseason finale is not built around a short list of starters. “Everybody that dresses is going to play, and for how long that it is, that’s going to be determined,” Kilam said. The game is also tied to Clarke Stadium’s place in Edmonton football history, with vintage activations around the facility for the night.
Cody Fajardo and the quarterbacks
Edmonton enters the matchup after beating the BC Lions 34-16 in Langford, B.C., on May 23. Cody Fajardo saw limited action in that game, while all three quarterbacks competing for a backup role threw a touchdown against the Lions.
Fajardo called the outing “super productive.” He said, “Every team had a scoring drive, guys were dialed into the details, I’m extremely impressed with how our receivers played, our substitution was fantastic … and it was fun to watch the 2s, 3s, and 4s get a lot of time and a lot of reps, and they put some really good stuff on tape, so it was just fun to be a part of.”
Malik Carney’s first snap
Defensive end Malik Carney will make his Elks debut Friday, his first actual game since winning the Grey Cup with the Saskatchewan Roughriders last November. He had eight sacks in 2025 and said he is ready to get back on the field in his No.2 jersey.
“I’m extremely excited to get my hands on somebody,” Carney said ahead of the game. “Just to get my hands on somebody, that’s what I’m excited for, and just to get back running around in this No.2 (jersey) and celebrate with the guys.” Calgary arrives off a 20-15 preseason win over the Roughriders at McMahon Stadium on May 18, so both clubs reach Clarke Stadium with one more tune-up before the games start counting for real.
