Legendary B.C. broadcaster and personality Bob B次元官网网址渢he MojB次元官网网址� Marjanovich has joined the Black Press Media team, bringing his wealth of sports contacts and knowledge to you with a weekly Today in B.C. Podcast and a twice-weekly column, starting today with this look at what the future has in store for injured B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke.
At the start of the 2022 B.C. Lions season, the biggest question surrounding the football club was whether or not Nathan Rourke could provide solid play as the teamB次元官网网址檚 starting quarterback.
That question was answered rather quickly.
As the Lions head into the stretch drive, the biggest question now is whether or not Rourke can return from surgery for a Lisfranc ligament sprain in his right foot by the end of the year.
That question is yet to be answered.
Rourke was putting up video game numbers in his second year with the Lions prior to getting hurt in a game in Regina against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Aug. 19. Not only was the Ohio University product the biggest story on the team but he was also the biggest story in the CFL, having thrown for 3,281 yards and 25 touchdowns in nine games.
RourkeB次元官网网址檚 numbers were staggering and on pace to break several passing records. To put things in perspective, it took WinnipegB次元官网网址檚 Zach Collaros and TorontoB次元官网网址檚 McLeod Bethel-Thompson a month to pass Rourke in passing yardage with only Collaros surpassing Rourke in touchdowns to date. As for the other CFL pivots, theyB次元官网网址檙e all still looking up at Rourke and his numbers heading into the month of October.
Most people werenB次元官网网址檛 buying what the Lions were selling when it came to Rourke and his recovery.
A team press release days after the injury stated that B次元官网网址渨e (the Lions) are hopeful that rehab will leave the door open for a late-season return.B次元官网网址� Anyone with access to Google would have begged otherwise.
Carolina running back Travis Etienne suffered a tear of his Lisfranc ligament in the 2021 pre-season and missed the entire campaign. Quarterback Matt Corral, a third-round pick of the Carolina Panthers this season, tore his Lisfranc ligament a day before Rourke got hurt and was placed on season-ending injured reserve. Yes, Rourke suffered a sprain rather than a tear but the fact the surgery was performed even had Lions head coach Rick Campbell pessimistic regarding RourkeB次元官网网址檚 return this year.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not counting on it. I think thatB次元官网网址檚 a bonus if that happens,B次元官网网址� Campbell told the media in late August.
Fast forward to the start of October and Rourke has ditched the scooter that he was using to get around post-op and has been seen at practice this past week sporting a walking boot B次元官网网址� and throwing. ItB次元官网网址檚 not like heB次元官网网址檚 a couple of weeks away from suiting up but it was a positive development as he beat the timeline by a week when it came to bearing weight on the surgical repaired right foot.
That, coupled with RourkeB次元官网网址檚 attitude, has some people now re-evaluating a possible late season return.
B次元官网网址淚f there is one person who can beat the odds on this itB次元官网网址檚 Nathan Rourke. All that preparation and dedication that youB次元官网网址檝e seen him put into being a good quarterbackB次元官网网址 can guarantee you that all of those habits are now being used find out the quickest way to recover when it comes to this injuryB次元官网网址� says Lions color analyst Guilio Caravatta.
So how would one describe RourkeB次元官网网址檚 possible return this year?
Well forgive me but IB次元官网网址檒l steal a line from legendary CKNW sportscaster Neil Macrae. Once a week, Macrae would talk horse racing with a guest from Hastings Park with the last bit being B次元官网网址渢he longshot with a shot.B次元官网网址�
That perfectly describes RourkeB次元官网网址檚 chances of a return this year.
Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob B次元官网网址渢he MojB次元官网网址� Marjanovich writes twice weekly for Black Press Media. And check out his weekly podcast every Monday or your local Black Press website.
in B.C.B次元官网网址檚 first game without Rourke
