LIVESTREAM PPV: CFL – Edmonton Eskimos @Ottawa REDBLACKS, Sat. Sept. 28, 4p EDT (10p CEDT)

Edmonton will visit Ottawa in their second meetup of the season, when the two sides meet in a cross-division duel. The Esks can sweep their season series with a win, having already defeated Ottawa at home, 16-12, back on Aug. 9.

Head Coach Jason Maas knows what’s at stake –securing their hold on the crossover playoff spot, which would in turn gravely affect the REDBLACKS’ faint playoff chances.

“Every week gives you a little different motivation, but this week we know what’s in store for us if we win this game and it’s a motivating factor for sure,” Maas said.

Both teams have been winless since August. Edmonton last won Aug. 16, defeating the Toronto Argonauts. The team has lost four straight since. Ottawa last won Aug. 2, a 30-27 overtime win over the Montreal Alouettes, and has lost six consecutive games since.

Both teams will be in peculiar situations with their quarterbacks. Edmonton will be without star quarterback Trevor Harris, who’s been placed on the six-game injured list.

Harris left a Week 13 against the Calgary Stampeders following an injury to his throwing arm, and hasn’t suited up since. Harris has thrown for 3,706 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, four interceptions, all with a 71.7 per cent completion rate in his first season in Edmonton.

Backup quarterback Logan Kilgore has had to pick up the slack in his absence. In two games this season, the California native has thrown 465 passing yards, two touchdown passes, and four interceptions. Three of his interceptions came against Hamilton last week, en route to a 30-27 loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

As for the REDBLACKS, quarterback Jonathon Jennings is listed as the starter for Saturday’s game. But according to Head Coach Rick Campbell, Dominique Davis will also see time.

“It’s not an ideal situation,” Campbell said. “I don’t think you ever think this would be the best case scenario. But I know the definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing and expecting a different result. We don’t have a set rotation. It’s not an experiment, it’s not a pre-season game.

“We’re just trying to change up looks. It’s not about trying to prove a point or evaluate. It’s about trying to find a way to win this game. Hopefully we’ll throw Edmonton off a bit with some different looks and a different guy playing quarterback.”

“It’s definitely not a situation I wanted to be in, but I respect coach’s decision,” Davis said. “Me and Jon are going to work together and get a W.”

The REDBLACKS will also be without two kick returners in Stefan Logan and Devonte Dedmon, as they’ve both been placed on the injured list. Dedmon last scored on a return in his team’s last victory over Montreal. Wide receiver Caleb Holley will be in the lineup. Defensive lineman Darius Jackson has also been added.

Linebacker Jeff Knox Jr. will also sit out and has been placed on the one-game injured list. He’ll be replaced by linebacker Jerod Fernandez.

Edmonton running back Shaq Cooper and punter Hugh O’Neill will be in the lineup, while linebacker Blair Smith and offensive lineman Tommie Draheim will both come out. They are both on the injured list.

BY THE NUMBERS

22 — Since Week 10, Edmonton linebacker Larry Dean has had 22 tackles. That’s the fourth-most in that time span, trailing Hamilton’s Simoni Lawrence, Montreal’s Henoc Muamba, and Calgary’s Jamar Wall.

129 — Edmonton receiver Greg Ellingson is 129 yards away from reaching 1,000 receiving yards on the season. The former REDBLACKS pass catcher would reach that mark for the fifth straight year. He also has at least one catch in his last 56 games.

6 — The REDBLACKS’ losing streak of six games is their longest since their expansion season in 2014.

44 — Ottawa hasn’t scored an offensive touchdown in two games, or 44 offensive possessions to be specific.

– With files from Esks.com and OttawaREDBLACKS.com