According to a CFL source, the Edmonton Elks acquired Canadian receiver Kurleigh Gittens Jr. from the Toronto Argonauts on Monday in exchange for American defensive lineman Jake Ceresna. During the first half of a CFL football game in Hamilton, Ont., Gittens (19) scores a touchdown catch while being defended by Hamilton Tiger-Cats defensive back Tunde Adeleke (2).
McLeod Bethel-Thompson, the Edmonton Elks’ new quarterback, now has another target.
According to a CFL source, Edmonton acquired Canadian receiver Kurleigh Gittens Jr. from the Toronto Argonauts on Monday in exchange for American defensive lineman Jake Ceresna. The insider spoke on the condition of anonymity because neither the Elks nor Argos had made the arrangement public.
Just over a week ago, Edmonton signed Bethel-Thompson to a one-year contract. When the Argos won the Grey Cup in 2022, Bethel-Thompson and Gittens became teammates.
The five-foot-11, 191-pound Gittens, who played collegiately at Wilfrid Laurier, had a career-high 81 catches for 1,101 yards with five touchdowns in 2022.
However, injuries limited Gittens to 35 receptions for 416 yards and a touchdown in 10 regular-season games last season.
Gittens, 26, was taken by Toronto in the third round of the 2016 CFL draft. He was a CFL all-star in 2022, as well as the East Division’s outstanding Canadian.
Last season, the 6-foot-5, 295-pound Ceresna had 48 tackles and 12 sacks, both career highs. He also fumbled on purpose.
Ceresna joins the Argonauts following four seasons with the Edmonton Oilers. He began his CFL career with the Ottawa Redblacks before being traded to Alberta.
Ceresna has played in 75 regular-season CFL games, recording 163 tackles, 37 sacks, and six forced fumbles.
