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When Justin McInnis left Saskatchewan, he was an injury-prone, under utilized receiver. With the B.C. Lions, he’s become an elite CFL talent.
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Published Jul 12, 2024 • 6 minute read
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B.C. Lions wide receiver Justin McInnis is unable to hang onto the ball while being defended by Hamilton Tiger Cats defensive back Destin Talbert. Photo by Peter Power /The Canadian Press
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Justin McInnis has no vendetta. Just a tattoo of one.
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The B.C. Lions’ receiver is always grateful for the chance to be a pro that the Saskatchewan Roughriders gave him — drafting him sixth overall in the 2019 CFL Draft — but the chance to progress as one never materialized in Regina.
In his first two seasons in the green and white, he started just five games. He didn’t score a touchdown until 2022, when he finally cracked the starting lineup, but the ball only went his direction 3.6 times a game.
NEXT GAME
Saturday
Saskatchewan Roughriders vs. B.C. Lions
4 p.m., B.C. Place, TV: SN Pacific, Radio: Sportsnet 650
It took him coming to B.C. for his talent to shine. He blew away his three-season career total in Saskatchewan in just one game with the Leos, with 690 yards and five touchdowns, and this year he’s on pace for well over 1,000 yards. He’s currently third in CFL receiving with 482 yards and four TDs after five games.
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The two teams meet Saturday with the ‘Riders (4-0) holding on to first place in the West, just ahead of the Lions (4-1).
While it’s a common occurrence for players in the nine-team CFL loop to be facing a team they were cut loose from, it’s not every day that one immediately blossoms into an elite talent in his new home.
But there’s no hard feelings. McInnis’s ‘V’ for Vendetta tattoo is just about his hardcore love for the movie.
“Truthfully, nope, probably not,” he said when asked if he thought he would reach this level if he had stayed in Saskatchewan instead of leaving as a free agent before the 2023 season.
“Honestly and truthfully speaking — Saskatchewan or not — I just feel good for myself. I mean, I put in the work. It’s Year 5 for me. So, it’s been a long time coming, but yeah, it’s a testimony to … just manifesting (success), and talking with VA (Vernon Adams) all the time, saying that it’s gonna be my year.
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“But it is a long season. I’ve got to keep that in mind. I’ve got to continue to work, stay healthy and reach the goals that I’ve set for myself.”
Looking back, he thinks it was the first impressions he left that slowed his ascent. He came to Saskatchewan after two NFL mini-camps, but tore his hamstring with the Tennessee Titans, missing nearly all of the ‘Riders’ training camp. COVID-19 killed the 2020 season, and more injuries hampered him in 2021.
“I think what the big thing was is first impressions are huge. I came into Saskatchewan hurt and I was injured a lot over there too. So that kind of was like always the MO with me,” he said.
His first impression on the Lions came in 2022 in the form of a career-high 11 yards and TDs against B.C., a positive mark he reinforced when he joined them. Leos offensive coordinator Jordan Maksymic has called the versatile McInnis a Swiss Army Knife since he’s arrived, but he’s earned a more lethal comparison. Maybe a machete or the blade from Rambo?
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“He knew he was going to be a backup, and he was probably going to be on the roster as just a role player,” he said of McInnes’s arrival.
With Keon Hatcher out with an injury until next week at the earliest, McInnis has taken over his spot at inside slot, hitting triple digits twice and putting up games of 91 and 95 yards in two others.
“We literally told him to learn the whole offence — every receiver position — because at the drop of a hat, you could be in this position, you could be in that position, you could be our No. 1 target, you could be in the box run blocking, pass protecting, all that kind of stuff,” said Maksymic.
“And from Day 1 … he bought into that. He learned our whole system, he was patient and he waited for this opportunity.”
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Running mate Alex Hollins and Montreal’s Tyson Philpot are both on pace to crack the 2,000-yard mark, something only three CFL receivers have done and none since Allen Pitts in 1994 with Calgary. But McInnis isn’t far behind, with a 1,735 yard projected total at his current rate.
Lions quarterback Adams has been spamming McInnis with texts about hitting 1,000 yards this year, but the goalpost might just have to move on that one.
“It was this year that I wanted a 1K season. VA’s texting me like, ‘1K! 1K!’ … Now we’ve been talking about 1,200 lately,” he said with a laugh.
“But why not? Why not us? We definitely have the offence for it. VA’s putting up unreal numbers, so I don’t see why it’s not possible. Again, you never know with how things go, but I say 1,200 now is that new kind of target goal — at least.”
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Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ Justin Sumpter is tackled by BC Lions’ Marcus Sayles and Ben Hladik Aug. 26, 2023. Sayles was cut after training camp and promptly signed by the ‘Riders two days later. Photo by ETHAN CAIRNS /THE CANADIAN PRESS
SPEAKING OF FORMER TEAMS
Marcus Sayles’ talent was never a question. His passport, ultimately, was what ended his time in Vancouver.
The Lions’ secondary is a Canadian-heavy unit, with five of their eight starters behind the defensive line coming from this side of the 49th parallel. It’s a rare feat the Lions have pulled off, allowing them great roster flexibility to field Americans in other positions.
It also made Sayles expendable, as he was cut after training camp and promptly signed by the ‘Riders two days later. The 29-year-old former all-star has continued to play at a high level, with 11 tackles and an interception — which he returned for his first career TD last week in the ‘Riders’ 30-23 win over the Toronto Argonauts.
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“It caught me off-guard,” Sayles said this week, reflecting on how his three-year stay in B.C. was abruptly ended.
“I’ve been cut multiple times throughout my professional football journey, but at the same time, I’m still here and I’m still blessed to play. Hopefully I can just keep continuing to give what I can give.
“I still feel like I have a lot to give to this game and unfortunately I wasn’t part of what (the Lions) were trying to build but Saskatchewan was able to pick me up and I’m ready to go here.
“I’m excited just to be able to go against them. They’ve got some great players; a lot of them are still my boys I talk to here and there … I love going against great competition, especially that team (B.C.) because I just left from there.”
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Other ‘Riders connections: Lions backup QB Jake Dolegala and defensive lineman Pete Robertson plied their trade for Saskatchewan last year, while ‘Riders’ DL Lake Korte-Moore played for the UBC Thunderbirds. B.C. linebacker Bo Lokombo will also get to suit-up against brother Nelson, a ‘Riders’ defensive back.
B.C. Lions quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. is sacked by Calgary Stampeders’ Mike Rose and Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund September 24, 2022. The passing leaders this year could join an exclusive club, with the projected totals for Adams at 6,307. Photo by DARRYL DYCK /THE CANADIAN PRESS
RARE AIR
The CFL is a passing league, but the aerial attacks we’re seeing this year has rarely happened in league history. Only three times have four QBs been on pace to go over 5,000 yards passing in the same season (1993, 2004 and 2018), and only twice have there been two who could breach 6,000. The passing leaders this year could join the exclusive club, with the projected totals looking like this: Adams (6,307), Bo Levi Mitchell (6,016), Cody Fajardo (5,666), and McLeod Bethel-Thompson (5,512).
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Adams is rolling early with 1,752 yards and 11 TDs, and calculating it out, he could finish with the second most all-time behind Doug Flutie’s 6,619 in 1991 — which also happened with the Lions.
Only two QBs have surpassed the 6,000-yard mark in the same season in league history — 1993 with Flutie (6,092), and Sacramento Gold Miner’s David Archer (6,023).
LINE CHANGE
Josh Banks, a.k.a. The Night Train, will miss Saturday’s game through injury. The burly defensive lineman’s spot in the middle of the line will be filled by Jonah Tavai … Receiver Jevon Cottoy is listed as starting on the depth chart, but will be a game-time decision. Should he be unable to go — he didn’t practise this week with a rib injury — his spot will be filled by rookie Kieran Poissant.
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Courtesy : https://theprovince.com/sports/lions-roughriders-showdown