The Edmonton Elks extended the contracts of defensive back Chelen Garnes through the 2027 season and defensive back Kobe Williams through the 2026 season on Wednesday.
Chelen Garnes is five foot eleven and weighs 206 pounds. The 24-year-old from Waldorf, Maryland, signed with the Edmonton Elks on March 6, 2025. In 2025, he made 62 tackles, one tackle on special teams, and one interception in 18 games. The Elks nominated him for the CFL’s Most Outstanding Rookie.
The Detroit Lions signed Garnes as an undrafted free agent on May 10, 2024. In 2024, he made three tackles (3 solos) in three preseason games. The Lions released him on August 27, 2024.
Collegiately, Garnes played one season at Navy in 2019 with 11 tackles (4 solos, 7 assists), half a tackle for loss, half a sack, two interceptions, and three pass breakups in 13 games for the Midshipmen.
Then, he transferred to Wake Forest (2021-23) with 145 tackles (86 solos, 59 assists), seven tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, one interception, 10 pass breakups, and three fumble recoveries in 32 games for the Demon Deacons.
In 2023, he made 61 tackles (33 solos, 28 assists), two tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, five pass breakups, and two fumble recoveries in 12 games. He helped Wake Forest win the 2021 Gator Bowl over Rutgers and the ACC Atlantic Division.
Kobe Williams is five foot ten and weighs 180 pounds. The 27-year-old from Long Beach, California, signed with the Edmonton Elks on February 11, 2025. In 2025, Williams made 54 tackles and six tackles on special teams in 18 games.
The Jacksonville Jaguars signed Williams as an undrafted free agent on April 28, 2020. There were no preseason games in 2020 due to COVID-19, and he was released on August 10, 2020.
The Calgary Stampeders signed Williams as a free agent on June 11, 2021. In 2023, he made 45 tackles, four tackles on special teams, one sack, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles in 18 games. The Calgary Stampeders re-signed Williams on February 7, 2024.
In 2024, he made 60 tackles, one interception, and one forced fumble in 18 games. In four seasons, Williams made 136 tackles, four tackles on special teams, one sack, three interceptions, and three forced fumbles in 48 games.
Collegiately, Williams played one season at Long Beach Community College in 2016 with 21 tackles (18 solos, 3 assists), two tackles for loss, one interception, and five pass breakups in 11 games for the Vikings. Then, he transferred to Arizona State (2017-19) with 143 tackles (115 solos, 28 assists), 6.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions for 49 yards, one touchdown, 25 pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 38 games for the Sun Devils.
