Greg Bell's 1,038 Rushing Yards Are Now in Ottawa, And Nobody Is Ready For What That Means

Alright, you guys, it’s CFL season kickoff time and while we’re not talking about our guys, you know I’m still locked in on all the action. This Saturday, two teams from the basement of their divisions last year, the Ottawa Redblacks and the Edmonton Elks, are squaring off. Last year, Ottawa went 4-14 and Edmonton finished 7-11, so yeah, tough sledding for both. But get this: the Redblacks are rolling out a "new-look offense" that genuinely has me hyped about what could happen. We're talking fresh blood, a coach with a winning record, and a running back whose numbers are straight up absurd!

The Redblacks' New Backfield Is Coming For Everything

So, who are these guys hoping to turn things around? First up, Jake Maier is taking over as the starting quarterback for Ottawa. This dude is a six-year veteran, previously playing for Calgary and Saskatchewan, so he’s seen some things. But the real game-changer for the Redblacks has to be offseason addition, Greg Bell. You guys, Bell isn't just "good," he was an absolute beast last season for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He led the East Division in rushing with a ridiculous 1,038 yards. And get this: he also reeled in 62 passes, which was a CFL-best for running backs! Imagine that kind of dual threat. New head coach, general manager, AND offensive coordinator Ryan Dinwiddie knows a thing or two about winning, having helped the Toronto Argonauts make the playoffs in four out of five seasons, even winning two Grey Cups. He’s preaching culture and expectations. As Maier said, "If you want to be a championship team, you've got to win your home games." Ottawa's got five of their first seven at home, so they’re banking on that fast start.

Elks' Opener Curse vs. Fajardo's Milestones

On the other side, we've got the Edmonton Elks, and man, they’ve had a brutal run with season openers. They haven’t won one since 2019! We're talking 0-9 in 2023, 0-7 in 2024, and then losing six of their first seven in 2025. That’s a rough pattern to break, right? Elks head coach Mark Kilam is trying to keep the focus on "things we can control," which is probably smart, considering their history. But their quarterback, Cody Fajardo, is looking to hit some personal milestones, which is always cool to see. He’s just three touchdown passes shy of 100 and two rushing scores short of 50. Plus, the guy has an insane 9-1 record against Ottawa, which has to give Elks fans a sliver of hope. And let’s not forget about Elks running back Justin Rankin, who led the whole league last season in total yards from scrimmage with 1,726! So while the team has struggled, they’ve got some serious talent.

So, here we are: Saturday. The Redblacks are hoping Greg Bell and Jake Maier can ignite a new era under Ryan Dinwiddie, especially with those home games looming. Meanwhile, the Elks are desperate to snap their opener curse, leaning on Cody Fajardo’s individual brilliance against Ottawa and Rankin’s league-leading yardage. It’s going to be a fascinating start to the CFL season, with so much riding on these early games for both squads.

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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.