The B.C. Lions receiving corps took a hit at the end of last season when stalwart Bryan Burnham announced his retirement after eight seasons with the team.

But heading in to a new CFL season, the Lions coaches are confident they can maintain their success minus the Tulsa, Okla., native.

B次元官网网址�(WeB次元官网网址檝e got) Dominique Rhymes, Lucky Whitehead, Keon Hatcher, Jevon Cottoy, and thereB次元官网网址檚 a whole list of guys and thatB次元官网网址檚 a solid core,B次元官网网址� said head coach Rick Campbell.

Rhymes led the team in 2022 with 1,401 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns.

B次元官网网址淲e know how close we were. We know the work we got to put in, how we need to stay consistent and good things will happen to us,B次元官网网址� Rhymes said.

Hatcher was close behind with 1,043 receiving yards and five touchdowns, while Whitehead had 1,011 yards and three touchdowns.

Whitehead said his main focus is keeping himself healthy this season to ensure thereB次元官网网址檚 no drop in production on the offence.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e got to be able to take care of myself this season and be able to help the offence as much as possible,B次元官网网址� he said.

Whitehead struggled with an ankle injury last season, forcing him to miss the Western Division semifinal and final.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a lot of fuel,B次元官网网址� he said about 2022B次元官网网址檚 season-ending loss to Winnipeg. B次元官网网址淲e left some meat on the bone, especially myself.B次元官网网址�

He added that heB次元官网网址檚 likely to take the field for field goal defence, not kick returning as he did last season.

B次元官网网址淚f we can steal some points, IB次元官网网址檒l probably go in at field goal defence and leave the punt and kick returning to Terry (Williams),B次元官网网址� Whitehead said.

Wide receivers coach Jason Tucker said heB次元官网网址檚 confident his players can fill the void left by Burnham.

B次元官网网址淲e brought in a lot of good guys that can step in and help us out,B次元官网网址� Tucker said about heading in to the upcoming season.

Tucker said the harder part is the mental challenge of getting over how last season ended.

B次元官网网址淭his group is good. We just need to get over that hump of one more game,B次元官网网址� he said, referring to last seasonB次元官网网址檚 Western Division final loss to Winnipeg.

Burnham was limited to nine games last season due to injuries, including a broken wrist sustained in a loss to Calgary on Sept. 25, but he still managed 596 yards and four touchdowns on 41 receptions.

He had 476 receptions and 7,212 receiving yards with the Lions throughout his career, which both rank fourth in franchise history and his 43 touchdown receptions are seventh all-time among Lions receivers.

Burnham said his desire to be closer to his family and be an engaged father was part of the reason for his retirement.

He announced this past month that he has joined Holland Hall, a pre-kindergarten to Grade 12 independent Episcopal school in Tulsa, as its first-ever Director of Belonging and Inclusivity.

The Lions also announced it had released nine players from its training camp roster, all Americans: Cesar Barajas (K), Elijah Benton (DB), Cole Blackman (WR), Raymond Calais (RB), Robert Holt (LB), Quinn Oseland (OL), Kevin Shaa (WR), Tre Webb (DB), Henry Yianakopolos (LB).

Yianakopolos was mobbed by fellow defensive linebackers on Tuesday after intercepting a throw from starting quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. with players shouting B次元官网网址済et off the fieldB次元官网网址� to the offence.

The Lions training camp practice on Wednesday was moved inside due to wildfire smoke that hit Kamloops, B.C. Environment Canada says the smoke is likely from wildfires in Alberta and the Peace region.

The Calgary Stampeders cancelled their Wednesday practice while the Edmonton Elks moved theirs inside due to wildfire smoke from fires across Alberta.

B次元官网网址擭ick Wells, The Canadian Press

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