WINNIPEG 鈥� Jackson Jeffcoat and Brandon Alexander don鈥檛 want B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke to continue where he left off.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers (14-3) host the Lions (12-5) on Friday in the regular-season finale for both CFL clubs, which doesn鈥檛 affect playoff positioning but is notable because it marks Rourke鈥檚 return from injury.
The Victoria native was making headlines before suffering a Lisfranc sprain in his right foot late in an Aug.19 victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders that required surgery. He had thrown for 3,281 yards and 25 touchdowns with 10 interceptions over nine games (8-1) up to that point of the season.
Winnipeg鈥檚 defence doesn鈥檛 need any reminders about the challenges Rourke presents.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to have to get after him,鈥� said Jeffcoat, Winnipeg鈥檚 veteran defensive end who鈥檚 returning to action after missing the past three games with a hip injury.
鈥淗e gets the ball out fast. He鈥檚 real smart. He鈥檚 good at managing the game. He knows where to put the ball, so we鈥檝e got to get back there and get pressure on him.鈥�
Both Jeffcoat and Alexander stressed the team鈥檚 mantra of treating the match as just the next game they want to win, but it could be a playoff preview.
The Bombers are hosting the CFL West Division final Nov. 13. Their opponent will be the winner of the semifinal between the Lions and Calgary Stampeders.
鈥淚t could be B.C. later on, but it鈥檚 just about this game (Friday) and put our best foot forward,鈥� said Alexander, the team's veteran safety, after a walk-through on Thursday.
He鈥檚 aware Rourke鈥檚 presence brings a different dynamic to the Lions, who will also play now-backup quarterback Vernon Adams Jr.
鈥淚 know for them they rally around that guy for sure,鈥� Alexander said of Rourke. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 their guy so they鈥檙e going to come out here and play with more enthusiasm and things like that.鈥�
Lions head coach Rick Campbell said he wants Rourke to get some quality reps. He expects him to play about the first quarter, depending on the flow of the game.
Rourke said he鈥檚 excited and feeling pretty relaxed.
鈥淛ust try to gain some confidence back and get in the groove of things, get in a rhythm and feel good about the week of prep heading into a big game against Calgary,鈥� he said of his goals for Friday鈥檚 game.
Fans shouldn鈥檛 expect him to continue where he left off.
鈥淢aybe this is not the week to go to those expectations, right?鈥� Rourke said with a smile. 鈥滻鈥檓 just trying to get healthy and this is just a stepping stone in that direction.鈥�
Rourke will have a familiar target to throw to as receiver Lucky Whitehead returns after sitting out the past three games with an ankle injury.
Winnipeg is also getting back receivers Greg Ellingson and Drew Wolitarsky. Ellingson missed seven games with a foot injury, while Wolitarsky was out the past four (knee).
Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros, who鈥檒l likely play at least the first quarter, is glad the pass catchers are back.
鈥淏oth are great players, great security blankets for lack of a better term, for a quarterback,鈥� Collaros said.
It鈥檚 also 鈥渁wesome鈥� Rourke is back from injury.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a person, he鈥檚 a football player and this is what our jobs are, is to play,鈥� Collaros said.
If the Bombers pick up their 15th win of the season, it鈥檒l be a franchise record.
鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 aware of that so, no, we haven鈥檛 talked about that,鈥� Collaros replied to a reporter鈥檚 question. 鈥淔ifteen is better than 14, though.鈥�
B.C. LIONS (12-5) AT WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS (14-3)
Friday, IG FIELD
SETTLING THE SERIES 鈥� Winnipeg and B.C. split two games earlier this season. If the Lions win the season series, it would be the first time against the Bombers since 2017. The Lions have lost their last three games at IG Field by margins of 45, 16 and 22 points.
RARE ROOKIE 鈥� Bombers rookie receiver Dalton Schoen leads the league in receiving yardage with 1,357. B.C.鈥檚 Dominique Rhymes, who is playing Friday, has 1,346 yards. The last time a rookie led the league in receiving yards was in 2000, when Saskatchewan鈥檚 Curtis Marsh had 1,560. Schoen also tops receivers with 15 touchdowns, which is a Winnipeg franchise record for a first-year player.
RUN FOR THE TITLE 鈥� B.C. running back James Butler is pushing toward the league rushing title. He has 1,054 yards, 34 behind Calgary鈥檚 Ka鈥橠eem Carey. The Stampeders host Saskatchewan on Saturday.
STRONG FINISH 鈥� If the Lions beat the Bombers to finish 13-5, it鈥檒l match their 2012 record under head coach Mike Benevides.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 27, 2022.
Judy Owen, The Canadian Press
