B.C. Lions star Vernon Adams Jr.'s injury 'not long-term' but he is sidelined 'week-to-week'

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B.C. Lions medical staff have determined that the injury sustained by starting quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. on Thursday night in Winnipeg is “not long-term,” but he is “out week-to-week,” according to coach Rick Campbell in a written statement from the CFL club Friday afternoon.

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Adams seemed to injure his right knee in the fourth quarter of B.C.’s 25-0 loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He left the game and did not return. Jake Dolegala finished at pivot for the Lions.

Adams left the field on a medical cart after the game.

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B.C. (5-3) will be back at practice on Tuesday and we should get a better idea then how long Adams, 31, might be out for. If B.C thinks it’s just a couple of weeks, they may not bother bringing in another veteran quarterback. If it’s going to be longer than that, the Lions will undoubtedly have another experienced quarterback in their camp early next week.

Dolegala, 27, and Chase Brice, 26, are the only quarterbacks on the B.C. roster outside of Adams.

Before Lions fans get too excited, former B.C. starter Nathan Rourke signed a contract with the Atlanta Falcons Thursday and looks every bit like he’s going to try to stick in the NFL this season. The Victoria-born Rourke, 26, doesn’t have automatic path to a roster spot with the Falcons, though, since they already have free-agent addition Kirk Cousins, first-round draft pick Michael Penix Jr., and Taylor Heinicke, who got starts last season. Atlanta is the fourth NFL team for Rourke.

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Oddly enough, it was a week-to-week injury that Rourke sustained in an Aug. 19, 2022, game that led to the Lions bringing in Adams in a trade.

There are 10 weeks left in this regular season for B.C., starting with a road game Aug. 11 against the Edmonton Elks. The Lions are hosting the Grey Cup Nov. 17, so there’s an added pressure to be a contender.

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Adams leads the CFL in passing yardage (2,469) going into Friday night and he’s second in passing touchdowns (14), trailing only Bo Levi Mitchell (17), the Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ quarterback.

B.C.’s offence produced a dreadful 102 yards of net offence on Thursday. Adams was 8-of-17 for 74 yards with one interception. Dolegala was 1-of-3 for 12 yards.

Dolegala had a 2-7 record as a starter in the second half last year for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, getting the call due to injuries to both Trevor Harris and Mason Fines. On the season, Dolegala connected on 64.8 per cent (216-of-333) of his attempts for 2,641 yards, to go with 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also ran 26 times for 95 yards, with one touchdown.

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He got into two games with Saskatchewan the season before as a rookie. He’s a 6-foot-7, 242 pounder who played collegiately at Central Connecticut, and he signed with B.C. as a free agent in February.

Brice signed as a free agent with B.C. last June and he’s yet to see game action. He’s a 6-foot-3, 235 pounder who played at Appalachian State.

Dane Evans, 30, who was B.C.’s second string QB behind Adams last season, retired before this season. His contract with B.C. had run out.

SEwen@postmedia.com

@SteveEwen

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