Saskatchewan Roughriders prepare for Elks’ Justin Rankin at Mosaic Stadium

By Liam Tremblay — 22 July 2026 — 3 min read

Roughriders prepare for dynamic Elks tailback

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are preparing to face Edmonton Elks tailback Justin Rankin, who has been a significant offensive threat during the 2026 season. Rankin is on pace to potentially achieve a rare feat in the CFL, aiming to become the first player to reach 1,000 yards in both rushing and receiving in the same year. The upcoming game between the Elks and the Roughriders at Mosaic Stadium on Thursday night is a crucial matchup, as both teams contend for first place in the West Division.

Roughriders Defensive Line Coach Micah Johnson highlighted Rankin’s dynamic explosiveness, noting his ability to impact the game in multiple ways. Johnson explained that Rankin is dangerous whether he is handed the ball for a run or utilized in the screen game and as an outlet receiver from the backfield. He described Rankin’s agility in open space as similar to a punt returner, making him difficult to tackle once he gains momentum.

Through six games this season, Rankin has accumulated 522 rushing yards, averaging 7.1 yards per carry, and has caught 32 passes for 343 receiving yards. His current pace projects him to reach 1,566 rushing yards and 1,029 receiving yards for the season. Johnson emphasized the importance of each defensive player maintaining their assigned gap to prevent Rankin from exploiting openings, especially when he attempts to bounce plays to the edge.

The B.C. Lions have been the only team this season to effectively limit Rankin’s production. In two recent games against the Lions, Rankin rushed for only 28 yards on 14 carries. This contrasts sharply with his performance in the Elks’ other four games, where he recorded 494 rushing yards on 60 carries.

Strategies and historical context

Roughriders Head Coach Corey Mace indicated that the team reviews strategies from other opponents, including those who have found success against the Elks. He noted that while nuances exist, the primary focus remains on the Roughriders’ own defensive execution to stop opposing offenses. The matchup is expected to be physical, with both teams known for their aggressive play and talented defensive units. Both the Elks and Roughriders defenses rank highly in net offense allowed, setting the stage for a compelling contest.

The Elks, despite dealing with some injuries to impact players like linebacker Nick Anderson and defensive tackle Jordan Williams, have maintained a strong ground game led by Rankin. The Roughriders’ defense, while generally strong, faced challenges against the run-heavy Calgary Stampeders in Week 3, though they secured a narrow 40-37 victory.

Historically, achieving 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in a single CFL season is a rare accomplishment. The closest bid for a 1,000-1,000 season was made by Andrew Harris during his time with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, when he rushed for 1,035 yards and added 857 receiving yards in 2017. Harris is now the Roughriders’ Running Backs Coach.

Other notable Roughriders running backs have come close to significant dual-threat numbers. Tim McCray, in 1989, rushed for 1,285 yards and had 749 receiving yards, finishing 251 yards shy of the double 1,000-yard mark. He was named the team’s Most Outstanding Player that year. Ed Buchanan earned the Roughriders’ MOP nomination in 1964 with 1,390 rushing yards and 681 receiving yards.

In 1994, Mike Saunders recorded 1,205 rushing yards and 613 receiving yards. The Roughriders’ exclusive 700-700 club includes Ken Carpenter, who had 726 rushing yards and 784 receiving yards in 1956, and Ray Purdin, with 809 rushing yards and 771 receiving yards in 1962. Craig Ellis holds the Roughriders’ record for receiving yards by a running back, with 977 yards on 102 catches in 1985, alongside 569 rushing yards that season. The CFL expanded its regular season from 16 to 18 games per team in 1986.

Source: riderville.com