Momentum has shifted for both teams lately as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers prepare to meet the BC Lions on Sunday in Vancouver for the third time.
The visiting Blue Bombers (3-6) are heading in the right direction after an 0-4 start, while the Lions (5-4) have lost three in a row.
A late field goal lifted BC to a 26-24 victory in the first meeting of the West Division rivals on June 21 in Winnipeg. The Bombers blanked the Lions 25-0 in the rematch on Aug. 1, also in Winnipeg.
Winnipeg has been idle since that shutout, while BC dropped its third consecutive contest with a 33-16 setback Sunday at Edmonton.
Instead of standing pat, the Lions made news this week by signing quarterback Nathan Rourke, the 2022 CFL Most Outstanding Canadian, who returns to the CFL after being released Sunday by the Atlanta Falcons. Rourke played for BC in 2021 and ’22.
BC head coach Rick Campbell made it clear that Rourke’s arrival does not mean current quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. is on the way out.
“From talking to Nathan, I know how excited he is to be back with the Lions and to get going. For this to happen, it also had to include Vernon Adams Jr. being here,” Campbell said in a team release. “Vernon will not be traded and is too good a player, too valuable a leader and a huge part of our team.”
Adams has thrown for 2,469 yards with 14 touchdowns and six interceptions this season, but he missed last week’s loss to the Elks with a right knee injury. Jake Dolegala, who started in his absence, was released after the Rourke signing.
Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros had one of his best games of the season in the victory against the Lions to begin this month. He passed for 295 yards and a touchdown and Sergio Castillo did the rest, making all six of his field goal attempts, including a 60-yarder.
The Bombers’ defense limited Adams to 74 yards on 8-of-17 passing with an interception.
Winnipeg coach Mike O’Shea expects to see Rourke on the field for BC on Sunday.
“They didn’t sign him not to play him. He’s been in the system and he knows what to do,” said O’Shea (99-68), who is looking for his 100th win since joining the Bombers in 2014.
The Lions are 3-0 at home this season and the Blue Bombers are 0-4 on the road.
–Field Level Media
