EDMONTON — After a week of questions as to who will be the starter at quarterback for the Edmonton Elks against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Friday night, the answer is finally in.
And it’ll be someone Roughriders fans are plenty familiar with.
Former Riders quarterback Cody Fajardo will get the start at pivot for the first time this season, taking over from Tre Ford after the duo split quarterback reps at practice all week.
It’s the first start for Fajardo against Saskatchewan since his time in Regina. He played three seasons for the Green and White from 2019 through 2022, passing for nearly 4,500 yards in the 2019 campaign.
Fajardo was acquired from the Montreal Alouettes this past off season, one year after he was the Grey Cup MVP in Montreal’s 28-24 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
The 33-year-old nine-year veteran backed up Ford to start the 2025 campaign and has completed nine passes for 107 yards and one interception.
Ford had started all five games for Edmonton and was 82-for-121 passing for 984 yards, with five touchdowns and three interceptions while also rushing for 154 yards and a major for the 1-4 Elks.
The move comes after Ford was pulled in the second half of Edmonton’s 32-14 loss to the B.C. Lions in Week 6, where he was 4-for-12 passing for 34 yards and an interception. Fajardo was effective as his replacement, going 5-for-7 with 78 yards and a touchdown.
Kickoff for the Roughriders and Elks is 7 p.m., with the pre-game show on the Roughriders Broadcast Network Network beginning at 4 p.m.
