Niagara Falls quarterback to make CFL debut, but is not listed as a QB

There is some perplexion over the spot Tre Ford of Niagara Falls has on the Edmonton Elks’ depth chart for their regular-season opener on Saturday.

Not all gridiron fans get that granular about rosters for a Week 1 game, but Ford became the first Canadian quarterback in over 40 years to be taken in the first round of the Canadian Football League draft when he was chosen last month. He also had NFL interest as a QB from the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens and New York Giants after exhibiting his passing ability and track-star speed during various pro days in the lead-up to both leagues’ drafts. For now, though, the Elks have the 24-year-old Ford listed as a backup wide receiver. Ford wore No. 5 during his university days with the Waterloo Warriors, but has been given the No. 2 made famous by Henry (Gizmo) Williams in Edmonton.

Edmonton faces the British Columbia Lions — who have their own homebrew QBs in starter Nathan O’Rourke of Oakville and backup Michael O’Connor of Ottawa — at 10 p.m. on Saturday in Vancouver.

Season opener depth chart! Saturday night against the B.C. Lions at 8pm MDT 🏈 #GoElks #CFL

DETAILS | https://t.co/Gp8wFKEA11 pic.twitter.com/zdR7X8YFst

— Edmonton Elks (@GoElks) June 10, 2022

Canadian quarterbacks have often had an uphill battle to get a foothold in the CFL, whose rules require teams to have seven nationals among the 24 starters on defence and offence. There have been some success stories in recent years, including the Lions’ duo of O’Rourke and O’Connor.

Other quarterbacks — think Brad Sinopoli, who became a standout slotback with the Ottawa Redblacks — have converted to other positions. Seeing Ford listed as a receiver fuelled some speculation about a switch. That said, Edmonton coach-GM Chris Jones has long been known for a certain amount of gamesmanship.

One analyst, Wade Zanchetta of Canadian Football Perspective, suggested that the move read like Ford had shown enough ability in training camp to be worthy of a roster spot.

“To me it’s a temporary move to keep his game changing skill on the roster until he is the (backup quarterback),” Zanchella wrote.

This Ford move tells me that:

“Tre isn’t quite ready to make the roster as our #3 QB… but god damn he is too special to not have on the roster/field.”

To me it’s a temporary move to keep his game changing skill on the roster until he is the #2.#CFL | @CFPerspective https://t.co/Jh2gaSESq2

— Wade Zanchetta (@Wadezanc) June 10, 2022

Edmonton’s starter behind centre will be Nick Arbuckle, whom the Elks traded for in a swap with the Toronto Argonauts last season. Taylor Cornelius, who played in nine games for Edmonton as a rookie last season and threw more interceptions than touchdown passes, is listed as the backup.

Ford’s twin, Tyrell Ford, will make his debut for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Friday night. The Blue Bombers have Tyrell Ford listed as a backup cornerback ahead of their home game against Ottawa.