Vernon Adams Jr. said it was difficult this season when the B.C. Lions decided to keep starting Nathan Rourke at quarterback, even after he had recovered from an injury.

B次元官网网址淭hat really crushed me,B次元官网网址� Adams said Monday as the Lions cleaned out their lockers following a disappointing 28-19 loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 CFL West semifinal.

The Lions began the season with hopes of playing in the Grey Cup game being hosted at BC Place Stadium on Nov. 17. After starting at 5-1 the Lions struggled to a 9-9 record and third place in the West.

B次元官网网址淚t was not the ending we wanted,B次元官网网址� Adams said.

Adams opened the season as the LionsB次元官网网址� starter and was putting up MVP numbers before suffering a knee injury in an Aug. 1 loss to Winnipeg. While he was mending, Canadian-born quarterback Nathan Rourke returned to the Lions after failing to find a job in the NFL.

Carrying the weight of high expectations, and trying to shake off the rust of not playing regularly for 18 months, Rourke lost his first two starts.

Even when Adams was healthy, Rourke continued as the starter, finishing the year with a 3-5 record. Rick Campbell, B.C.B次元官网网址檚 co-general manager and head coach, decided to start Adams in the LionsB次元官网网址� final game of the season, a win over the Montreal Alouettes, and against the Riders in the playoffs.

Adams said he knew when he was traded to the Lions from Montreal in 2022 his role was to keep the team in playoff contention while Rourke recovered from an injury. He understood Rourke would be the starter once he was healthy again.

B次元官网网址淚 felt like that was going to be the same thing this year and it wasnB次元官网网址檛,B次元官网网址� said Adams, who completed 20 of 33 passes for 317 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions against the Riders. B次元官网网址淲hen I came back and they told me they didnB次元官网网址檛 know if I was getting my spot back, it just totally crushed me.

B次元官网网址淚 wasnB次元官网网址檛 going to be whining and complaining about it. I had to come to work every day with a smile on my face.B次元官网网址�

The decision to stick with Rourke may have caused B次元官网网址渁 little bitB次元官网网址� of division in the Lions locker room, Adams said.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think it was that bad because guys knew we were a better team with him. I tried to defuse it and let guys know this is what it is.B次元官网网址�

Campbell said he believed he did what best for the Lions having Rourke, the 2022 most outstanding Canadian, continue as quarterback.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檒l always reflect and try to learn,B次元官网网址� said Campbell. B次元官网网址淚 was trying to be very thoughtful in doing what I thought was best for the team. I still am sticking to my story.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think the quarterbacks was the issue, either one of those guys. I just think as a whole group, we needed to be better.B次元官网网址�

Rourke called Adams a great leader and said it was a difficult situation for both players.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think weB次元官网网址檙e asking those type of things if weB次元官网网址檙e still playing or if my time had gone better,B次元官网网址� said Rourke.

B次元官网网址淚 think I did the best I could with what I had. ItB次元官网网址檚 hard to have regrets about that.B次元官网网址�

Adams finished the season completing 197 of 302 passes for 2,929 yards, 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Rourke completed 136 of 209 passes for 1,781 yards, four touchdowns and nine interceptions.

During the season the Lions often looked like a car searching for traction while spinning its tires on a slippery road. B.C. enjoyed both a five-game winning streak and a five-game losing skid.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think we were consistent enough,B次元官网网址� Campbell said.

Questions are being asked about CampbellB次元官网网址檚 future. In four seasons he has a 38-30 record. After missing the playoffs in his first year, B.C. finished second in the division in 2022 and 2023, losing the West final to Winnipeg both years.

The fate of Campbell and Neil McEvoy, B.C.B次元官网网址檚 co-GM and director of football operations, will be decided in meetings over the next few weeks with owner Amar Doman and team president Duane Vienneau.

The team will have 33 free agents, including Justin McInnis, the CFLB次元官网网址檚 receiving leader, and defensive end Mathieu Betts, the 2023 outstanding defensive player who also returned to the Lions this summer after having an NFL tryout.

B次元官网网址淭he team that was playing in Saskatchewan on Saturday, thatB次元官网网址檚 the last time that team will be together,B次元官网网址� McEvoy said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 going to be change. ThatB次元官网网址檚 what we have to do over the next month, figure out what is the best step going forward.B次元官网网址�

Campbell said itB次元官网网址檚 unlikely the Lions will be able to keep both Rourke and Adams next season.

Adams expects to know more about his future after Grey Cup.

B次元官网网址淚 want to have a say in where IB次元官网网址檓 going if they are trading me,B次元官网网址� he said.

Rourke said he plans to be a Lion next year.

B次元官网网址淚 think this group would agree there was a lot left on the table,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e have to find ways to get better.B次元官网网址�