Next man up. ItB次元官网网址檚 a phrase that is used often in sports to describe the mindset of having someone ready to come in and replace an injured player.
ItB次元官网网址檚 a philosophy that the B.C. Lions have adhered to this season with the 24-21 win over the Edmonton Elks Thursday night at BC Place being the latest example.
While everyone has been pontificating on how the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have been ravaged by injuries and how it has impacted them as they start their season at 0-3, itB次元官网网址檚 not like the B.C. Lions havenB次元官网网址檛 had their share of injuries either.
Yet with the win over the Elks, the Lions sit at 3-1.
For some reason, most CFL observers forget the fact that the Lions have two all-stars sidelined right now.
Receiver Keon Hatcher and halfback T.J. Lee are still out with Achilles injuries suffered in the Western Final game against the Bombers last Nov. 11. Both are rehabbing at the Lions facility, working on agility drills and running sprints while the main group practices. The loquacious Hatcher is also adding B次元官网网址榗olour commentaryB次元官网网址� to some plays during team period and making his presence felt. Lee is targeting to return for the game in Calgary on July 21, with Hatcher hoping to play a couple of weeks after that.
Defensive tackle Nathan Cherry is also going through the drills as he recovers from a torn ACL. Cherry is an underrated part of the line rotation and will give the team another boost when he returns at some point.
Throw in the fact that starting center Michael Couture is on the six-game injured list with a back issue and the Lions have done well despite missing those players.
The Lions depth will be further tested, though, as middle linebacker Josh Woods tore his ACL in the game against Edmonton and will be lost for the year.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 tough. ThatB次元官网网址檚 our leader, our brother. It hurt my heart to see that because he works so hard and heB次元官网网址檚 such a good dude. We had some banged-up receivers as well but guys just stepped up and made plays when we needed to,B次元官网网址� Lions quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. told us on our CKNW 980 post-game show.
With the latter, Adams was referring to wide receiver Alexander Hollins, who was on the sidelines for the game-winning drive against the Elks because of a hamstring issue.
B次元官网网址淗is status is to be determined. He couldnB次元官网网址檛 run if you watched him this game. He slowed down as the game went on and we didnB次元官网网址檛 want something horrible to happen where it turns into a long-term thing. The good news is that we are on a 10-day week coming up, so time is a little bit on our side with that. Hopefully over the next few days he starts feeling better,B次元官网网址� said Lions head coach Rick Campbell.
There are some positives, however, as linebacker Ben Hladik is set to return after a one-game absence. Hladik, who led the CFL with 25 tackles heading into this week, missed the Edmonton game after undergoing a surgical procedure on his thumb but should be good to go against Hamilton next Sunday according to Campbell.
B次元官网网址淭he good news is that we have guys that can play. Ace (Eley) played a lot tonight as did Ryder Varga. And there is a very good chance Ben is back next week, so we do have options but there is no question we will miss Josh,B次元官网网址� said Campbell.
The Lions in all likelihood will have Hladik move back to middle linebacker - a position which he manned last year - with Ryder and veteran Bo Lokombo rotating at HladikB次元官网网址檚 vacated outside linebacker spot. Or they could start Eley at middle with Hladik staying outside although the former scenario is the one more likely to occur with Eley getting reps in certain packages.
As the season progresses, more injuries will occur and the B次元官网网址榥ext-man-upB次元官网网址� mantra will be tested yet again, but thus far, the Lions have passed the test.
OVERTIME
* Lions quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. continued his great play, going 27 for 38 for 331 yards passing with a touchdown. He also continued his streak of not throwing an interception, which is now up to 133 attempts. Speaking of streaks, kicker Sean WhyteB次元官网网址檚 game-winning 42-yard field goal as time expired upped his consecutive field goal streak to 28, which is a career-best.
* The Lions unveiled a new short-yardage offense with fullback David Mackie operating the offence under center. Mackie was productive carrying the ball five times for 17 yards including a touchdown. A fumble near the Elks goal line early in the fourth quarter put a damper on things but Mackie rebounded by punching one in from the one-yard line on the very next drive to give the Lions the lead. B次元官网网址淚t shows the confidence that the coaching staff has in me. I didnB次元官网网址檛 think they were going to totally pull the plug on me but sometimes your mind circles a little bit when something goes wrong. ItB次元官网网址檚 nice that we got back in that situation and they had the trust in me to make that call again,B次元官网网址� said Mackie.
* The Elks lost for the second straight week on a walk-off field goal and dropped to 0-4 despite losing three of those games by a field goal and the other by eight points. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 just sick for the guys. TheyB次元官网网址檝e worked their butts off. People donB次元官网网址檛 see how hard they work. A five-day weekB次元官网网址ravelling to both sides of the countryB次元官网网址hatB次元官网网址檚 a pretty tall task for anyone. There are a lot of teams that, if they were faced with the same thing to come over here in B.C., the outcome would be a lot different than what we had tonight,B次元官网网址� Elks head coach Chris Jones said post-game.
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.
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