Stampeders QB Vernon Adams Jr. gets another shot at BC Lions

Vernon Adams Jr. will look to record his second straight strong performance against his former team when the Calgary Stampeders host the BC Lions on Thursday night.

Adams, who played for BC from 2023-24, threw three touchdown passed to pace the Stampeders (4-5) to a 41-33 victory over the Lions (3-5) on June 27.

Adams leads the CFL with 21 passing touchdowns, however he was kept out of the end zone and threw his first two interceptions of the season in Calgary's 33-30 setback to the Toronto Argonauts last Thursday.

"I wasn't on my best game and I let my team down so I'm gonna watch (the film) and get better from it," Adams said.

The Stampeders' defense did its best to pick up the slack, forcing five turnovers (four interceptions and a fumble recovery) -- highlighted by Adrian Greene returning an interception for a touchdown.

Calgary's defense will take aim at Nathan Rourke, who supplanted Adams as the starting quarterback in BC after a return from the NFL.

Rourke didn't look the worse for wear during his return from a two-week absence due to a shoulder injury. The CFL's Most Outstanding Player from last season threw for 370 yards and two touchdowns in the Lions' 27-24 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday.

"We were just trying to execute. I didn't feel like we did a super solid job of that the entire game," Rourke said. "We were just trying to get some positive plays and get into position."

Jevon Cottoy did his part, reeling in an 11-yard reception on the pivotal final drive. He finished with seven catches on as many targets for 109 yards while playing in his first game since sustaining a thigh injury in the opener versus the Saskatchewan Roughriders on June 13.

Zander Horvath found the end zone against the Tiger-Cats. That came on the heels of earning CFL Player of the Week honors from a career-best 191-yard, three-touchdown performance in the Lions' 35-19 win July 30 over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

--Field Level Media