Edmonton Elks sign Canadian running back Jamel Lyles, move Tre Watson to one-game injured list

Photo courtesy: Scott Grant/CFLPhotoArchive.com

The Edmonton Elks have signed Canadian running back Jamel Lyles and American running back Jordan Scarlett to the practice roster.

Lyles was released by the B.C. Lions in late May after playing two seasons with the Lions, dressing for 12 games and recording 11 carries for 86 yards. The native of Surrey, B.C. was selected in the eighth round of the 2019 CFL Draft out of the University of Manitoba.

Scarlett was released by the Montreal Alouettes on June 5. A fifth-round selection by the Carolina Panthers in the 2019 NFL Draft, Scarlett played in nine games with the Panthers, primarily on special teams. He also had stints with the Detroit Lions (2020) and Miami Dolphins (2021).

The five-foot-eleven, 200-pound ball carrier played three seasons for the University of Florida Gators and registered 1,846 yards on 344 carries and 12 touchdowns in 35 games.

The club also moved linebacker Tre Watson to the one-game injured after he signed with the team on Wednesday. The 26-year-old was released by the Montreal Alouettes on Monday after two incidents with unnamed personnel that occurred during the team’s recent loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Watson started four games at middle linebacker for Montreal and made 24 defensive tackles and one sack. He appeared in eight games for the Als as a rookie in 2021 and made seven defensive tackles and seven special teams tackles.

The Elks host the Calgary Stampeders on Thursday, July 7 at 9:00 p.m. ET.