Vernon Adams Jr. said it was difficult this season when the B.C. Lions decided to keep starting Nathan Rourke at quarterback, even after he had recovered from an injury.

91裸聊视频淭hat really crushed me,91裸聊视频� Adams said Monday as the Lions cleaned out their lockers following a disappointing 28-19 loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Saturday91裸聊视频檚 CFL West semifinal.

The Lions began the season with hopes of playing in the Grey Cup game being hosted at BC Place Stadium on Nov. 17. After starting at 5-1 the Lions struggled to a 9-9 record and third place in the West.

91裸聊视频淚t was not the ending we wanted,91裸聊视频� Adams said.

Adams opened the season as the Lions91裸聊视频� starter and was putting up MVP numbers before suffering a knee injury in an Aug. 1 loss to Winnipeg. While he was mending, Canadian-born quarterback Nathan Rourke returned to the Lions after failing to find a job in the NFL.

Carrying the weight of high expectations, and trying to shake off the rust of not playing regularly for 18 months, Rourke lost his first two starts.

Even when Adams was healthy, Rourke continued as the starter, finishing the year with a 3-5 record. Rick Campbell, B.C.91裸聊视频檚 co-general manager and head coach, decided to start Adams in the Lions91裸聊视频� final game of the season, a win over the Montreal Alouettes, and against the Riders in the playoffs.

Adams said he knew when he was traded to the Lions from Montreal in 2022 his role was to keep the team in playoff contention while Rourke recovered from an injury. He understood Rourke would be the starter once he was healthy again.

91裸聊视频淚 felt like that was going to be the same thing this year and it wasn91裸聊视频檛,91裸聊视频� said Adams, who completed 20 of 33 passes for 317 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions against the Riders. 91裸聊视频淲hen I came back and they told me they didn91裸聊视频檛 know if I was getting my spot back, it just totally crushed me.

91裸聊视频淚 wasn91裸聊视频檛 going to be whining and complaining about it. I had to come to work every day with a smile on my face.91裸聊视频�

The decision to stick with Rourke may have caused 91裸聊视频渁 little bit91裸聊视频� of division in the Lions locker room, Adams said.

91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 think it was that bad because guys knew we were a better team with him. I tried to defuse it and let guys know this is what it is.91裸聊视频�

Campbell said he believed he did what best for the Lions having Rourke, the 2022 most outstanding Canadian, continue as quarterback.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檒l always reflect and try to learn,91裸聊视频� said Campbell. 91裸聊视频淚 was trying to be very thoughtful in doing what I thought was best for the team. I still am sticking to my story.

91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 think the quarterbacks was the issue, either one of those guys. I just think as a whole group, we needed to be better.91裸聊视频�

Rourke called Adams a great leader and said it was a difficult situation for both players.

91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 think we91裸聊视频檙e asking those type of things if we91裸聊视频檙e still playing or if my time had gone better,91裸聊视频� said Rourke.

91裸聊视频淚 think I did the best I could with what I had. It91裸聊视频檚 hard to have regrets about that.91裸聊视频�

Adams finished the season completing 197 of 302 passes for 2,929 yards, 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Rourke completed 136 of 209 passes for 1,781 yards, four touchdowns and nine interceptions.

During the season the Lions often looked like a car searching for traction while spinning its tires on a slippery road. B.C. enjoyed both a five-game winning streak and a five-game losing skid.

91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 think we were consistent enough,91裸聊视频� Campbell said.

Questions are being asked about Campbell91裸聊视频檚 future. In four seasons he has a 38-30 record. After missing the playoffs in his first year, B.C. finished second in the division in 2022 and 2023, losing the West final to Winnipeg both years.

The fate of Campbell and Neil McEvoy, B.C.91裸聊视频檚 co-GM and director of football operations, will be decided in meetings over the next few weeks with owner Amar Doman and team president Duane Vienneau.

The team will have 33 free agents, including Justin McInnis, the CFL91裸聊视频檚 receiving leader, and defensive end Mathieu Betts, the 2023 outstanding defensive player who also returned to the Lions this summer after having an NFL tryout.

91裸聊视频淭he team that was playing in Saskatchewan on Saturday, that91裸聊视频檚 the last time that team will be together,91裸聊视频� McEvoy said. 91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 going to be change. That91裸聊视频檚 what we have to do over the next month, figure out what is the best step going forward.91裸聊视频�

Campbell said it91裸聊视频檚 unlikely the Lions will be able to keep both Rourke and Adams next season.

Adams expects to know more about his future after Grey Cup.

91裸聊视频淚 want to have a say in where I91裸聊视频檓 going if they are trading me,91裸聊视频� he said.

Rourke said he plans to be a Lion next year.

91裸聊视频淚 think this group would agree there was a lot left on the table,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲e have to find ways to get better.91裸聊视频�