Cody’s back: Elks’ Fajardo to start against Riders

The Saskatchewan Roughriders will take on Cody Fajardo for the first time as the opposing starting quarterback.

The Edmonton Elks released their depth chart with the former Rider pivot placed in the top quarterback spot for the showdown at Mosaic Stadium on Friday night. Kickoff for the game is set for 7 p.m. The Green Zone pregame show begins at 5 p.m.

Fajardo was the Riders’ starting quarterback from 2019-22, heading to the CFL West final two separate times — both ending in losses to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The club elected not to bring him back for the 2023 season, instead choosing to sign veteran Trevor Harris, who had been playing with the Montreal Alouettes. Cody then signed with the Alouettes as Harris’ replacement.

“I’m excited to just get my first start for the year and play with a bunch of guys I have a lot of respect for. If this was my first year coming out of Sask. and playing at Mosaic, it might mean a little bit different but I’ve been with five teams in a nine team league so everyone is going to be public enemy number one,” Fajardo said. “It’s going to be a little bit special. I’ve been telling people all week that Sask. has a soft spot in my heart. My son was born here and the first team to give me my first opportunity (to be the franchise guy) so it will always have a soft spot in my heart but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to try any harder.

“It doesn’t matter who is lining up across from us, I am going to try as hard as I can to win the football game.”

Harris is excited to finally take on Fajardo.

“He played here a long time and was a beloved player here, and the fans love him. When he went over to Montreal and I came here, we kind of talked about playing against one another and him coming back to Mosaic Stadium. I never thought it would be me here and him in Edmonton and how it has happened but here we are,” Harris said.

Fajardo won the 2023 Grey Cup with the Alouettes and was named the championship game MVP for his efforts. But this past offseason, the Montreal Alouettes elected to make Davis Alexander their starting quarterback and traded Fajardo to the Elks, where he has been the backup to Tre Ford thus far this season.

“People get to boo Cody tomorrow on the field, but hopefully they can at least let him know how much they appreciate what he did for the city and organization as a tremendous quarterback here during his time, but I hope it’s not a sweet homecoming for him,” Harris said.

“Hopefully we can hand him an L, but it’s going to be a difficult task because we know he’s a great quarterback and they are a great team and a hungry team.”

As the starting quarterback for the Riders, Cody Fajardo led the team to two CFL West Finals. (Saskatchewan Roughriders)

Fajardo admitted he wasn’t sure what type of reception he is going to get from the fans in Saskatchewan.

“There will be some Fajardo jerseys in the stands and I think there will be some people wearing Fajardo jerseys that will be booing me which will be interesting, but it is always a great atmosphere. I have been on the winning side of it in that green and now I’m in a different green now,” Fajardo said. “I just have a lot of good memories in that stadium and there’s a lot of nostalgia just being here and a lot of things my family was a part of and my son being (born here). Just excited to play some football,” Fajardo said.

Linebacker C.J. Reavis was a CFL rookie back in 2022 when Fajardo was still the quarterback in Saskatchewan.

“I’m excited to play against Cody,” Reavis said. “He’s a great guy, and I am excited to get the chance to battle against him.”

Reavis admitted that being able to practice against Fajardo will help them out a little bit in this game, but it doesn’t give them any sort of significant advantage.

“I hope he isn’t the same player he was from three years ago, but if he is, that’s good for us. If not, we have to make the adjustments mid-game,” Reavis said.

The linebacker expects to have some friendly trash talk for his former quarterback.

“I’m not a quiet guy at all,” Revais said. “Miss you Cody, welcome home … It’s all love, but he’s going to hear it for sure.”

The Riders also released their depth chart on Thursday and revealed just a couple of changes.

Mario Anderson will come on as the backup running back this week with rusher Ka’Deem Carey being placed on the six-game injured list.

Offensive lineman Noah Zerr will start at left guard due to Zack Fry suffering a head injury. Head coach Corey Mace said Fry was in a motor vehicle accident earlier in the week and suffered a setback during practice this week.

“We’re not going to play around with that stuff,” Mace said.

Braydon Noll comes onto the roster as the sixth offensive lineman.

(Saskatchewan Roughriders)