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Leos coach Rick Campbell: “Like we’ve said from the very beginning, we want to utilize these two guys the best we can to help the B.C. Lions win games.”
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Published Sep 04, 2024 • 3 minute read
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B.C. Lions quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. Photo by John Woods /THE CANADIAN PRESS
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Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. is back practising fully with the B.C. Lions.
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When he’ll be back playing games remains to be seen.
A knee injury suffered against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Aug. 1 sent Adams to the sidelines and the return of Nathan Rourke from the NFL has sent him down the Lions’ depth chart.
It wasn’t all that long ago that Adams was seen as a frontrunner for CFL Most Outstanding Player honours this season. Going into this week, he’s still fourth in the league in touchdown passes (14) and sixth in passing yards (2,469).
Adams was part of team repetitions at practice Tuesday and coach Rick Campbell said afterwards that he hopes that Adams will be “quarterback 1-A” on the depth chart for Friday’s visit to the Montreal Alouettes, making him the next in line behind Rourke if required.
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Chase Brice had that distinction for Saturday’s 38-12 Touchdown Pacific win over the Ottawa Redblacks in Victoria. Adams was listed as the third-string QB and was on the sidelines, but didn’t dress.
When the Lions signed Rourke on Aug. 13, the second paragraph of their news release about the deal featured a Campbell quote that included that “for this to happen, it also had to include Vernon Adams Jr. being here. Vernon will not be traded and is too good a player, too valuable a leader, and a huge part of our team.”
We’ll see going forward how Campbell’s able to come up with a job share for the both of them.
“Like we’ve said from the very beginning, we want to utilize these two guys the best we can to help the B.C. Lions win games,” Campbell reiterated on Tuesday.
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Adams had been wearing a brace on the knee but wasn’t on Tuesday, and said afterward that he doesn’t think he’ll need one. He admitted that he had “butterflies” ahead of practice, thanks to his time away from the action.
“It feel good to get out there and see what’s going on,” Adams said. “I think I’m ready to go now. Tried it out today. I’ll be here, whatever these guys need, whatever Nate needs. I’ll back him up and be ready to go if my number is called.”
Rourke added: “He’s a great player, a great pro. Even when he was out he was a part of all the game planning. I don’t see that changing at all.”
The win over Ottawa ended a five-game losing skid for the Lions, and Rourke looked like the player who won the CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian in 2022, throwing his first three touchdowns since his return three games ago and putting up nearly as many passing yards (325) against Ottawa than he did in his first two games combined (360).
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B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke, front centre, David Mackie, right, and Jevon Cottoy, back left, celebrate after Rourke ran the ball for a touchdown during the first half of a CFL football game against the Ottawa Redblacks, in Victoria, B.C., on Saturday, August 31, 2024. Photo by DARRYL DYCK /THE CANADIAN PRESS
The West Division remains a traffic jam, with B.C. (6-6) and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (6-6) out in front, the Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-6-1) right on their bumpers and the Calgary Stampeders (4-7) and the Edmonton Elks (4-8) both close enough to change the order if someone falters.
B.C., of course, hosts the Grey Cup on Nov. 17, so the expectations for them for this season are amped up.
Building on last week is integral for them. As it happens, they’ve got a matchup with the current class of the league in the Alouettes (10-1) staring at them this week.
“Montreal’s record is their record for a reason,” B.C. offensive lineman Sukh Chungh said. “They fly around. They have a good defence. We have to come out firing. We need some urgency and we know that. You can see that in practice.
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“Saturday was huge for confidence. It was important with our position in the West. We know the West is up for grabs.”
Rourke added of Montreal’s defence: “They’re really well-coached. They fly around. They do a lot of different things. They’re very talented in a lot of different areas. We’re going to have to be able to take what they give us and put some drives together, because that offence is explosive as well.”
SEwen@postmedia.com
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Courtesy : https://theprovince.com/sports/football/cfl/bc-lions/vernon-adams-jr-back-up-nathan-rourke