Head coach Rich Campbell was confident Vernon Adams Jr. will start against the Edmonton Eskimos, but the B.C. Lions quarterback was a little more guarded about his health.
Adams practiced Monday, but missed Tuesday91裸聊视频檚 workout with an abdominal injury. At the time his status was listed as questionable for when the Lions (2-1) face the Elks (0-3) Thursday at BC Place Stadium to open Week 4 of the CFL season.
91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 good,91裸聊视频� Campbell said after the Lions walk-through Wednesday. 91裸聊视频淗e came in this morning feeling better. He seems good to go.
91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 been playing awesome for us. We91裸聊视频檙e obviously happy that VA is ready to go.91裸聊视频�
Adams, who is listed as the starter on the Lions depth chart, was more cautious.
91裸聊视频淚 feel good today,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚 woke up feeling better.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e going to see how we feel tomorrow.91裸聊视频�
The 31-year-old, who is in his second season as the Lions starter, said he woke up Tuesday feeling a strain in his lower abdomen. After sitting out Tuesday he took all the reps during Wednesday91裸聊视频檚 short practice and his movements didn91裸聊视频檛 seem to be hindered.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檒l see when I wake up tomorrow but feeling better today,91裸聊视频� he said.
After three games this season Adams has completed 63-of-95 passes for a CFL-leading 1,038 yards, six touchdowns and just one interception.
Former Saskatchewan Roughrider Jake Dolegala is Adams91裸聊视频� backup.
One player expecting to see some extra attention from the Elks is Lions wide receiver Alexander Hollins.
Hollins scorched the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for 215 yards and two touchdowns on seven catches in a nail-biting 26-24 victory last week.
91裸聊视频淎ttention? I love attention,91裸聊视频� said the six-foot, 175-pound speedster from Yazoo City, Miss.
Hollins grabbed everyone91裸聊视频檚 attention when he hauled in a 71-yard touchdown pass from Adams on BC91裸聊视频檚 fourth offensive play of the game against Winnipeg. He later caught a 29-yeard touchdown.
A big play early fires up both the offence and defence, said Hollins.
91裸聊视频淚t helps a lot,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚t makes the defence work even harder to try to get the ball back.
91裸聊视频淓verything is just high energy, cheering each other on, working hard. The more big plays everyone is making, the more plans we want to make as a unit.91裸聊视频�
After being named the CFL91裸聊视频檚 top receiver for Week 3, Hollins was asked if he could rake in even more yards against the winless Elks.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 not a goal of mine to try to get a certain amount,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚 just try to get open, catch the ball, get first downs, make plays for the team.91裸聊视频�
Adams said Hollins has the ability to be where he91裸聊视频檚 most needed.
91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 being him, the playmaker he is,91裸聊视频� said Adams. 91裸聊视频淲hen the ball finds him, he91裸聊视频檚 going to make a play.91裸聊视频�
Hollins leads the league with 402 yards and three touchdowns on 23 catches. Teammate Justin McInnis is third with 17 catches for 340 yards and two touchdowns.
Running back William Stanback, who signed with the Lions this winter after helping the Montreal Alouettes win the Grey Cup last year, is the league91裸聊视频檚 top rusher with 187 yards on 42 carries.
It91裸聊视频檚 a quick turnaround for the Elks, who are coming off a heart-breaking 39-36 loss against the Argonauts in Toronto Saturday. It was the second time in two weeks Edmonton lost by three points.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 not like we91裸聊视频檝e played poor football,91裸聊视频� said Chris Jones, Edmonton91裸聊视频檚 head coach and general manager. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e unfortunately lost three games and it comes down to that one or two plays that we91裸聊视频檝e got to learn to make.
91裸聊视频淲hen we do, we91裸聊视频檙e going to have a lot of success.91裸聊视频�
Campbell said the Elks are a better than then their record.
91裸聊视频淭hey are a good team,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淭hey have good players. We91裸聊视频檙e not getting caught up in their record. We expect it will be a close game again.91裸聊视频�
The Lions will also be without Canadian linebacker Ben Hladik, who has a thumb injury. Hladik, who leads the CFL with 25 tackles, will be replaced by Bo Lokombo.
EDMONTON ESKIMOS (0-3) at BC Lions (2-1)
Thursday, B.C. Place
LUCKY 13: Hollins was the first Lion since Nick Moore in 2017 to have over 200 receiving yards in a game. Tyon Gray holds the franchise record for most receiving yards in a game with 270 set in 1981. Hollins91裸聊视频� 215 yards is the 13th highest in Lions history.
ON THE ROAD: After Thursday, the Lions will play one home game over the next eight weeks. They play in Hamilton July 7, return home for a July 13 game against Saskatchewan, then travel to Calgary July 21, Winnipeg Aug. 1 and Edmonton Aug. 11 before hosting the Bombers Aug. 18.
GOING DEEP: Heading into Week 4 Adams leads the CFL in completing 14 of 29 passes for 20 or more yards, for a league-high 499 yards and five touchdowns.
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