Lions return to QB Vernon Adams Jr. as starter vs. Alouettes

The B.C. Lions are back where they started.

For their regular-season finale Saturday night against the visiting Montreal Alouettes, the Lions have re-installed Vernon Adams Jr. at quarterback.

Adams got B.C. off to a 5-1 start before the team hit the skids. Since then, the Lions are 3-8, including an ugly 39-8 loss last week at Saskatchewan that clinched a third-place finish in the West. That will force them to go on the road in two weeks for their first playoff game.

Adams has thrown for 2,544 yards this year with 14 touchdowns and seven interceptions but has tried only seven passes in the last nine games. Coach Rick Campbell went with Nathan Rourke in the middle of B.C.'s struggles.

Aside from overpowering wins against Ottawa and Montreal in a seven-day span, Rourke hasn't been the same quarterback who starred for B.C. in 2022 and then earned NFL chances with four different franchises. Rourke has thrown for 1,781 yards in eight games with only four touchdowns and nine interceptions.

"We'll roll with whatever gives us the best chances in the playoffs," Campbell said.

While the Lions (8-9) look for momentum, the Alouettes (12-3-1) know they'll be the East's top seed for the playoffs. All they have to do to play for a second straight Grey Cup is win the conference final at home on Nov. 9.

Montreal is coming off a 19-12 win Monday against Ottawa that saw backup quarterback Davis Alexander hit 14 of 24 passes for 208 yards with an interception. Alexander replaced Cody Fajardo, who was in Nevada for the birth of his second child.

There's no question that Fajardo is the starter when ready to return but Alexander is more than capable of winning. He's won all four of his starts this year, filling in during the summer when hamstring troubles shelved Fajardo.

Alexander ran for a touchdown in the win against the Redblacks, but coach Jason Maas wants him to be more prudent as time goes on in terms of seeking contact when he runs.

"We're never excited about him taking any hits like that," Maas said. "You'd prefer him not to be (hit)."

--Field Level Media