And one of them will still be winless

Game 4

Edmonton Elks (0-3) at Hamilton Tiger-Cats (0-3) Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton

The storyline

There were echoes of the Grey Cup for the Ticats last week in Winnipeg, but the Elks’ visit this week echoes something far less glamorous: last place. Whichever team loses, assuming there’s not a rare-tothe-CFL tie, will drop to four defeats against zero wins. Chris Jones, back running the rebuilding Elks, has not led a CFL team that started 0-4. And the Ticats have not made the playoffs after losing their opening four games. Not a small sample size either: eight times in the past 31 years. So the message here? It’s still too early in the forgiving CFL East for a must-win, but this is a you

better-win. The Ticats have a bye after Friday’s game, and that’s a long time for an oh-fer to fester in the mental stewing pot. The key for Hamilton is to come up with timely offence, especially in the second half and especially in the red zone. And that likely means a better running game, and more victories in one-on-one battles for Dane Evans passes. The D has to tighten in the second half, which means special attention to the likes of Kenny Lawler, who leads the league in receptions. Based on play so far, the Ticats appear to be the better of these winless teams but appearances are only that: It’s a performance-based business and Hamilton is not performing well enough in those critical moments that decide games.

Key Hamilton roster notes

American Colin Kelly, obtained from Edmonton in a trade for a 2023 draft choice, starts at left tackle against his old team, replacing Tyrone Riley … It appears offensive lineman Coulter Woodmansey,

who came off the six-game injury list this week, is able to start, and all-star LG Brandon Revenberg,

who missed last week’s game with illness, is also back … RB Wes Hills

has been getting a lot of practice reps, so he’ll likely dress, pushing American OL Travis Vornkahl off the game-day roster.

Key Edmonton roster notes

LB Deon Lacey, who led the team with 10 tackles against Calgary, is on the one-game injury list … The CFL added another yard to 10-year veteran Emmanuel Arceneaux’s receiving total from the weekend loss to Calgary, giving him an even 100, the 28th time he’s gone triple digits in his career … Martez Ivey is playing right tackle with Kelly traded to Hamilton … WR Kenny Lawler, who caught three passes or the Bombers in their Grey Cup win over Hamilton, was a key off-season acquisition for the Elks … Head coach Chris Jones and Orlondo Steinauer coached the Argos D together in their 2012 Grey Cup win … S/LB Matt Elam, who started all three games, was released this week as was WR Jalin Marshall, who was with the Ticats in 2019 and 2021 … DBs Jeawon Taylor and Ben Davis were added to the active roster.

They said it

“We’re 0-3 and we’re not shying away from the record. We think we’re better than that, absolutely. But that’s what we are right now and we have to play with a sense of urgency to make sure we go into the bye week on a good note.” — Ticat tackle Chris Van Zeyl.

“I don’t think it comes into it. I do think you need to be realistic about where you are but every opportunity you get to play in front of your fans that’s an opportunity to go out and ball, and put your best foot forward.” — Tim White, the Ticats’ leading receiver on whether an 0-3 start is part of the players’ mindset.

“When it comes to right tackle and left tackle, it’s kind of like throwing with your right hand for a long time, and now you have to throw with your left. It’s not what it looks like from the outside.” — Newly acquired Ticats left offensive tackle Colin Kelly, who has usually played right tackle in the CFL.

“We had (Martez) Ivey. Ivey’s an awful good player. Colin had a really nice career over here in Edmonton and it was a deal where we could get a draft pick, so it was kind of a no-brainer for us.” — Elks coach and GM Chris Jones to the Edmonton Sun on this week’s trade of OT Colin Kelly to the Ticats for a draft pick.

“Professional, champion, well-deserved. Didn’t want to be in the front, but there was no doubt he was a leader in his own way. Without Danny McManus, we don’t win the (1999) Grey Cup.” — Orlondo Steinauer on ex-teammate McManus, who was named to the Ticat Wall of Honour on Tuesday afternoon.

The numbers game

Chris Jones, back running the rebuilding Elks, has not led a CFL team that started 0-4. And the Ticats have not made the playoffs after losing their opening four games

0 Players from East teams and Edmonton Elks named among the nine CFL top performers of the week this season.

0 Number of times, in their entire 72-year history the Ticats have started 0-4 and made the playoffs. Eight of the nine times they’ve started 0-4 are since 1991.

6 Interceptions, the most in the league, thrown by both the Elks’ Nick Arbuckle and the Ticats’ Dane Evans.

6 Special teams tackles from Nic Cross, which are tops in the CFL, one more than Edmonton’s Tanner Green.

8 Wins for the Ticats in their 13 head-to-head games with Edmonton dating back to 2014. They’re 3-2 at Tim Hortons Field.

9 Field goals on 10 attempts for Elks kicker, former Ticat Sergio Castillo.

20 Defensive tackles by Ticats’ MLB Jovan Santos-Knox are the most in the CFL.

20 Pass receptions to lead the CFL for Edmonton’s Kenny Lawler, signed as a free agent from Winnipeg.

20 Combined punt and kickoff returns by Hamilton’s Lawrence Woods are two more than anyone else in the CFL.

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