Questions about Tre Ford’s future in Edmonton surface as Elks close out CFL season

Tre Ford was expected to beryllium Edmonton’s backmost of the future. After this Friday’s play finale against the Toronto Argonauts, helium could precise good beryllium the backmost of the Elks’ past.

The Elks (6-11) person already been eliminated from the playoff race. The Argos (10-7) person already clinched 2nd spot successful the East and a location playoff day against the Ottawa Redblacks.

So, erstwhile the 2 teams look each different Friday astatine Commonwealth Stadium successful a crippled that has nary bearings connected the standings, each eyes volition beryllium connected Ford, whose declaration expires astatine the extremity of the year. Will helium beryllium backmost successful Edmonton successful 2025? Or volition helium determination on?

“For maine personally, (this game) doesn’t amusement maine anything,” Ford said. “I cognize I tin vie and play backmost astatine this level. Hopefully, it shows different radical that — and conscionable spell from there.”

The Ford saga has been a roller coaster for some the subordinate and the fans. The Canadian backmost was taken successful the archetypal circular of the 2022 draught by the Elks. In the midst of the 2023 season, helium won the starting job, and became a instrumentality favourite with his quality to scramble, improvise and alteration breached plays into large gains.

Before the 2024 season, then-general manager and caput manager Chris Jones brought successful seasoned McLeod Bethel-Thompson and relegated Ford to the back-up role. The Elks started the play 0-7, Jones was fired, Ford got the accidental to commencement again, past got hurt. Bethel-Thompson became the starter arsenic the squad chased a playoff spot, but Ford got the starting gig backmost erstwhile the Elks were mathematically eliminated.

So, nary 1 could blasted Ford if helium went into the last week of the regular play reasoning that he’s playing for himself.

But Ford talked astir squad goals – astir playing with pride, and helping immoderate teammates deed idiosyncratic goals, specified arsenic seasoned receiver Eugene Lewis, who goes into the crippled 18 yards abbreviated of 1,000 connected the year,

“The large happening is, we privation to spell and win,” said Ford. “I cognize we’re not successful a concern to spell to the playoffs and pursuit the Grey Cup. Not each squad gets the accidental to bash that. We’re inactive professionals, truthful erstwhile we measurement connected the tract we’re trying to win.”

Lewis is different subordinate connected an expiring declaration — a two-year woody that paid him $320,000 a season, making him the champion compensated non-quarterback successful the league. He refused to instrumentality a wage chopped this season, and makes nary concealed that he’s successful the store model for each wide managers to see.

“I’m going to beryllium excited for myself,” helium said. “I’ve enactment myself successful a large position. I’m inactive showing it to radical here. If radical don’t deliberation I’m the champion receiver, oregon 1 of the champion players successful the league, past that’s their opinion. I amusement it each and each year. I effort to bash things arsenic champion arsenic I tin – and I cognize what I’m worth. I cognize what I bring to the tract and what I bring disconnected the tract to the community.”

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As for the Argos, this crippled is simply a formality.

While manager Ryan Dinwiddie said that it’s apt that astir of the squad volition marque the travel to Edmonton, galore of the team’s cardinal starters were listed successful backup roles connected the team’s extent illustration released Thursday.

Cameron Dukes was listed arsenic Toronto’s starting quarterback, up of seasoned Nick Arbuckle and accustomed starter Chad Kelly.

Not punching supra their weight

Of their six wins this season, the Elks person lone 2 against teams with winning records. Three of them person travel against the Calgary Stampeders, who volition decorativeness past successful the West

Bye bye

The Elks volition cleanable retired their lockers connected Monday, portion the Argos volition hole to conscionable Ottawa successful the East Semifinal.

Elks envy

The Elks traded antiaircraft lineman Jake Ceresna to Toronto up of the 2024 season. He’s tied for the league successful sacks, with eight.