Ford brothers clash for first time in Blue Bombers-Elks matchup

Edmonton Elks quarterback Tre Ford will see a familiar face in the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' secondary -- his twin brother, Tyrell.

Yes, the 26-year-old Ford brothers will square off against each other for the first time in a CFL game on Saturday when the West Division-leading Blue Bombers (7-6) visit the Elks (5-8).

"It's going to be interesting," Tyrell Ford told the Winnipeg Sun. "I've never really played against him, so I don't fully know what to expect. But I definitely know what he's capable of."

Both have fared well this season, with Tre Ford lighting a spark under a resurgent Elks club that has won five of its last six games.

"It feels great," Edmonton interim head coach Jarious Jackson said. "Especially with the type of season we have been having. We've turned it around these last five or six games and to be where we are, that is pretty exciting."

Jackson confirmed that Tre Ford will start Saturday's game in place of McLeod Bethel-Thompson, who sustained an upper-body injury in the team's 37-16 win over the Calgary Stampeders on Sept. 7.

Tre Ford will try to keep the ball away from his brother, who had two of his CFL's co-leading six interceptions in Winnipeg's 26-21 victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Sept. 7.

The Blue Bombers have ascended to the top of the congested West Division with five straight victories, including a home-and-home sweep of the Roughriders. Winnipeg will host Edmonton on the back end of a home-and-home series on Friday.

The Blue Bombers suffered a significant loss this week despite being idle. Linebacker Adam Bighill announced Thursday that he will be undergoing season-ending knee surgery.

The Elks lead the league in points per game (29.6), rushing yards (117.3) and turnover ratio (plus-16). Edmonton is attempting to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2019.

--Field Level Media