{
  "id": 16221691,
  "title": "Elks, Riders turn to backups for season finale",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/23/elks-riders-turn-to-backups-for-season-finale",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-23T20:03:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Global News",
    "slug": "global-news-globalnews",
    "url": "https://globalnews.ca/news/12119054/elks-riders-turn-to-backups-for-season-finale/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Saturday will see the Edmonton Elks and Saskatchewan Roughriders face off in the CFL regular-season finale. Both teams have already secured playoff spots, so the game will determine their playoff seeding. Jack Coan, Saskatchewan's starting quarterback, makes his first CFL start in place of Trevor Harris, who has been rested. Coan, a former quarterback at Wisconsin and Notre Dame, is eager to prove himself. The Elks, who clinched first place in the West, will host the division final on November 7. Coan has made 14 of 31 passes for 153 yards and one touchdown in just four games with the Riders. Saskatchewan's backup quarterbacks include Tommy Stevens and rookie Brayden Schager, who could make his first regular-season appearance. The Riders are also benching KeeSean Johnson, A.J. Ouellette, James Vaughters, Jermarcus Hardrick, and DaMarcus Fields. Taylor Powell, who has CFL experience as a starter, will replace Cody Fajardo for the Elks. Powell, who signed with the Elks as a free agent, will start his first CFL game since a 2024 loss. The Elks are resting 12 players, including Malik Carney, Tyrell Ford, Austin Mack, and Justin Rankin.",
  "summary": "It's a battle of the backups Saturday when the Edmonton Elks face the Saskatchewan Roughriders in their CFL regular-season finale.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}