The year is 2024, yet the Edmonton Elks are starting their season with an 0-5 record like it's 2023. What are the odds on that? Better question, what are the chances of the Elks losing their last 4 games by 3 points, or even the last 3 games by walk-off field goals?

For a team that supposedly saw upgrades and improvements in the offseason, the Double E has somehow found a way to look better-yet-worse in the first third of the 2024 CFL Season, a repeat of last year's performance. The start of the season has left more questions than answers for fans of the Green and Gold, more speculation than facts and more frustration than fun. After Sunday's defeat to the Ottawa REDBLACKS, many felt that there was no hope in sight for the struggling Elks, especially if changes weren't made at a higher level. Between boos, chants for Tre Ford and even the biggest hardcores holding their head in shame, the club needed to do something after losing yet another game in front of their fans at Commonwealth Stadium.

Then came the change that many had wanted for years; Chris Jones was relieved as Head Coach and General Manager of the Elks on Monday. Late in the afternoon, social media and outlets went into a frenzy with the news, the change being unexpected so late in the day. While many saw the move as a positive one, releasing a Head Coach and GM early in the season means your club and team are in dire need of repairs. Luckily for the Elks, Geroy Simon is now filling in at GM and Jarious Jackson at HC, with both of them eagerly filling these roles for the first time.

On Tuesday the Elks also announced that former EE Almondo Sewell, a two-time Grey Cup Champion defensive lineman, had officially joined the team as their Defensive Line Coach, a role he was already filling on a volunteer basis. The recent changes may make a difference for the Elks, but the current reality is an 0-5 record, a rematch against Ottawa just hours away. To make matters worse, the injury bug has taken its toll on the roster, making Friday's contest that much tougher for the Elks.

All of the above begs some questions: Has this team and organization finally seen rock bottom? Can the Edmonton Elks get any worse than this? Did the removal of Chris Jones mark the end of the dark days? Changes needed to be made at this point in the season in order to salvage playoff hopes, fanbase spirit and overall health of the organization. Chris Jones posted an 8-33 record as Head Coach and GM, an extremely dismal stretch over 2.5 years. There may have been a time when Jones was helping the team by taking on 3 roles, but the Elks were still losing too many games under Jones this season, even with Jason Shivers taking on Defensive Coordinator duties. Head Coach Chris Jones may be great in certain circumstances but considering the many losses, penalties, critical mistakes, questionable play calls and lack of desired roster upgrades, General Manager Jones ultimately struggled to build and maintain a winning team since being hired in 2022.

So once again we ask, can this team get any worse under Jarious Jackson and Geroy Simon? Technically it's hard to get any worse as a team with an 0-18 trajectory, and while completing the season with that record would be very painful to witness as a fan, the recent changes just might get this team back into the win column and over the hump they've been desperately trying to cross for 5 competitive games.

For today, we'll maintain hope that the wins are coming soon.