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CTV News
20 hours ago
- Sport
- CTV News
B.C. Lions quarterback Rourke ‘questionable' for rematch with Bombers due to injury
BC Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke (12) gets wrapped up by Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Willie Jefferson (5) during first half CFL action in Winnipeg Thursday, June 12, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods SURREY — The B.C. Lions may be without their No. 1 quarterback when they face the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Saturday. Nathan Rourke suffered a core injury against the Bombers in Winnipeg last Thursday and left midway through the fourth quarter after throwing for 249 yards with one touchdown and one interception. The 27-year-old Canadian was replaced by Jeremiah Masoli, who tossed for 84 yards with an interception as the Lions (1-1) lost 34-20. Rourke's participation in practice was limited on Tuesday, and he did not join his teammates on the field at the team's facility in Surrey, B.C., on Wednesday or Thursday, working instead with training staff on the sidelines. He was listed as questionable for the game in B.C.'s injury report on Thursday. Masoli is expected to replace him as starter against Winnipeg (1-0). The 36-year-old American signed with the Lions as a free agent in February following three seasons with the Ottawa Redblacks and eight with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 19, 2025.
National Post
3 days ago
- Sport
- National Post
B.C. Lions playing waiting game with Nathan Rourke injury, hoping rest leads to Saturday start
B.C. Lions fans looking for a silver lining in Nathan Rourke's injury status can point to the fact that the quarterback was willing to have a little fun talking about it on Tuesday. Article content 'That's why we're taking it day-to-day and evaluating on a day-to-day basis. How many times can I say day-to-day?' Rourke joked to reporters after practice at the team's Surrey headquarters. Article content Article content Article content Tuesday marked the Lions' first on-field workouts since Thursday's 34-20 road loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Rourke left that game early in the fourth quarter with an oblique injury. He talked Tuesday about how he got hurt on the second-to-last throw for him of the game. Article content The Lions (1-1) have a return match-up with the Blue Bombers (1-0) on Saturday at B.C. Place, and Rourke took part in the walk-through portion of Tuesday's practice, where the offence goes through plays step by step. After that, Rourke went to the sidelines, going through various rehab drills with team staff. He did throw, but over short distances and seemingly quite gingerly. Article content 'I want to play, and especially because we don't play these guys again for the rest of the regular season,' Rourke, 27, said of Saturday's match-up with the Blue Bombers, who have become arguably B.C.'s biggest rival during the past few CFL seasons. 'I don't feel like I played my best the other night, so it means a little bit more. Article content Article content 'Obviously, I also think we have the guys who are capable of winning without me. It's a long season. This is a one of those things that could turn into a longer injury if it's not handled right.' Article content Article content Jeremiah Masoli, the 36-year-old veteran that B.C. signed this winter as a free agent to back up Rourke, was getting the first-team repetitions Tuesday and would start Saturday if Rourke cannot play. Article content The Lions, it seems, are willing to see what rest can do for Rourke. Thursday will be a week since his injury. That would be a major checkpoint, although coach Buck Pierce sounded Tuesday like he would be willing to draw this out as long as possible to see if Rourke can go. Article content 'We don't need to know until game time,' Pierce said. 'We're going to give Nathan or any of our players opportunities to get feeling well, and we'll see where we are at closer to game time. Article content 'I'm okay with time, seeing how he feels after every day and seeing how he reacts to certain things.' Article content Article content Masoli has played 12 seasons in the league. He has made 59 career starts, including going 3-6 all-time versus Winnipeg. If he is asked to pinch hit on Saturday, he would have seen the situation at various junctures.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
B.C. Lions playing waiting game with Nathan Rourke injury, hoping rest leads to Saturday start
B.C. Lions fans looking for a silver lining in Nathan Rourke's injury status can point to the fact that the quarterback was willing to have a little fun talking about it on Tuesday. 'That's why we're taking it day-to-day and evaluating on a day-to-day basis. How many times can I say day-to-day?' Rourke joked to reporters after practice at the team's Surrey headquarters. Tuesday marked the Lions' first on-field workouts since Thursday's 34-20 road loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Rourke left that game early in the fourth quarter with an oblique injury. He talked Tuesday about how he got hurt on the second-to-last throw for him of the game. The Lions (1-1) have a return match-up with the Blue Bombers (1-0) on Saturday at B.C. Place, and Rourke took part in the walk-through portion of Tuesday's practice, where the offence goes through plays step by step. After that, Rourke went to the sidelines, going through various rehab drills with team staff. He did throw, but over short distances and seemingly quite gingerly. 'I want to play, and especially because we don't play these guys again for the rest of the regular season,' Rourke, 27, said of Saturday's match-up with the Blue Bombers, who have become arguably B.C.'s biggest rival during the past few CFL seasons. 'I don't feel like I played my best the other night, so it means a little bit more. 'Obviously, I also think we have the guys who are capable of winning without me. It's a long season. This is a one of those things that could turn into a longer injury if it's not handled right.' Jeremiah Masoli, the 36-year-old veteran that B.C. signed this winter as a free agent to back up Rourke, was getting the first-team repetitions Tuesday and would start Saturday if Rourke cannot play. The Lions, it seems, are willing to see what rest can do for Rourke. Thursday will be a week since his injury. That would be a major checkpoint, although coach Buck Pierce sounded Tuesday like he would be willing to draw this out as long as possible to see if Rourke can go. 'We don't need to know until game time,' Pierce said. 'We're going to give Nathan or any of our players opportunities to get feeling well, and we'll see where we are at closer to game time. 'I'm okay with time, seeing how he feels after every day and seeing how he reacts to certain things.' Masoli has played 12 seasons in the league. He has made 59 career starts, including going 3-6 all-time versus Winnipeg. If he is asked to pinch hit on Saturday, he would have seen the situation at various junctures. He was 7-of-10 for 84 yards, with one interception, in that fourth quarter against Winnipeg. Last season, Masoli got three starts with the Ottawa Redblacks, and he was 102-of-150 for 1,149 yards, with five touchdowns and seven interceptions. 'You show up to work every day prepared to be the guy,' Masoli said Tuesday. 'It's business as usual. 'It was good to get in there and get some reps with the starters. I haven't had many reps with those guys, but they make it easy or me. Rourke admitted Tuesday that he was 'feeling pretty sore,' and that 'it's an injury that affects a lot of things that I do.' 'The doctors have said that it could clear up in a couple of days. We're hoping that's the case,' he said. Rourke said he was hurt trying to find some extra power on a throw with a Winnipeg defender wrapped around his left foot and trying to pull him down. 'Then the play after it set in that I didn't have much power and obviously a lot of pain,' he said. Rourke was 12-of-27 for 249 yards, with one touchdown and one interception against the Blue Bombers. He rushed six times for 58 yards, wth one touchdown. In the 31-14 triumph in the season opener versus the Edmonton Elks, Rourke was 27-of-36 for 324 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. He rushed five times for 54 yards. sewen@ Bombers 34, Lions 20: Nathan Rourke suffers apparent injury in road loss B.C. Lions: Buck Pierce returns to Winnipeg for first time as visiting coach
CBC
3 days ago
- Sport
- CBC
Bombers' star RB Brady Oliveira still a question mark for rematch with Lions
Social Sharing Brady Oliveira was at the Blue Bombers practice on Monday, but the star running back was an observer rather than a participant. Coach Mike O'Shea had no update on whether the CFL's reigning most outstanding player and top Canadian would play in Saturday's rematch in B.C. against the Lions. "You know me, I'm always hopeful," O'Shea told reporters. Oliveira left the field early with an upper-body injury in last Thursday's season-opening 34-20 victory at home against the Lions. Some reports said he might have suffered a shoulder injury. After Monday's practice, Oliveira was casually throwing footballs with receiver Nic Demski. O'Shea was asked if that was a promising sign. "Tossing footballs and delivering hits are two different things," he said. Oliveira ripped off a 43-yard run during Winnipeg's first series against B.C. Bomber quarterback Chris Streveler then threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Demski in the end zone at 2:29. Oliveira left the field after the score and didn't return. He was replaced by rookie Matthew Peterson, who wowed the crowd with 23 carries for 130 yards, including a 38-yard touchdown. The University of Alberta product, whom the Bombers acquired in a trade with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on draft day this year, said he spoke to Oliveira after the game. "I just said, 'Everything for you,"' Peterson said after Monday's practice. "And he said, 'Good job, buddy."' The Brooks, Alta., native said his professional debut has added to his confidence and he'll be ready if called to action when the 1-0 Bombers face the 1-1 Lions. "Having that big of a game, it helps the confidence that much more," Peterson said. "But the reason why I have so much confidence is because of the five guys in front of me and the quarterback and all the weapons around me." Collaros back There will be a different starting quarterback for Winnipeg in Saturday's game. Zach Collaros had to miss the opener because he was serving a one-game suspension for failing to respond to an off-season drug-testing request. Collaros watched the game from inside Princess Auto Stadium. "I'd be lying to you if I said that it wasn't difficult to watch the game from the locker room," he said. But it was interesting, too. "I was pacing the hallways there and the weight room, walking on the treadmill, so it was cool to watch it on TV," Collaros said. "You could hear the crowd erupting before something good happened, so that was cool to anticipate what would happen, but it was not a fun experience." He did see Oliveira after he exited the game. "Any time you have to come out of a football game like that, it's tough," Collaros said. "Going to get him a Gatorade and a protein bar was pretty much all I could do in that moment, and tell him it's going to be all right." Peterson's performance was "awesome" and his long TD run impressive, Collaros said. "Being able to watch that over and over again on TSN was really cool," he said. "The cut that he made to create some separation in the game there was huge for us, too." While Streveler made some great throws and executed the game plan, Collaros is ready to return to action. "I guess I am excited to get back out there," he said. "It's kind of the whole angst thing, as it is, leading into a new season. "It's been different for me, obviously. We had a bye week and then not playing, so I feel like we've been in camp for a very long time." B.C. quarterback Nathan Rourke left last week's game midway through the fourth quarter with an apparent injury. He told reporters after the game something in his midsection felt off and made it hard for him to put power on his throws.
CTV News
13-06-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Demski has two touchdown catches in Blue Bombers' 34-20 victory over Lions
Blue Bombers quarterback Chris Streveler (17) throws to Matthew Peterson (22) as he's pressured by BC Lions lineman Jonah Tavai (99) during first-half CFL action in Winnipeg on Thursday, June 12, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods WINNIPEG — If someone had told Matthew Peterson he'd carry the ball for 130 yards and a touchdown in his CFL debut, the Blue Bombers running back was candid in what his response would have been. 'I'm confident, you know. I would have said, 'You're damn right,'" he said with a smile, repeating the line for greater effect. "No, I'm glad I could just come out here and just do my thing and make sure that the offence still flows.' Winnipeg defeated the B.C. Lions 34-20 in their season opener on Thursday without starting quarterback Zach Collaros and star running back Brady Oliveira. Collaros was serving a one-game suspension for failing to respond to an off-season drug-testing request. He was replaced by Chris Streveler, who threw two of his three touchdown passes to Nic Demski. Streveler completed 15 of 24 pass attempts for 246 yards and one interception in front of a sellout of 32,343 at Princess Auto Stadium. 'Just guys leaning on each other and making their plays,' Streveler said. 'Matt (Peterson) stepping up, having a great game. Guys making plays when the ball comes their way. And the great thing is, there's still improvements to be made.' Winnipeg opened the game with a four-play, 80-yard touchdown drive. Oliveira, the CFL's reigning most outstanding player and top Canadian, burst out of the gates for a 43-yard gain, the longest carry of his career. Streveler followed up with a 20-yard TD pass to Demski in the end zone at 2:29, marking his 72nd consecutive game with at least one reception. Oliveira went to the locker room after the score. The Bombers (1-0) announced he wouldn't return because of an upper-body injury. There was no update after the game. B.C. quarterback Nathan Rourke left the game midway through the fourth quarter after an apparent injury. He was 12 of 27 passing for 249 yards with one TD and one interception. He also ran two yards for a score. Rourke was replaced by Jeremiah Masoli as the Lions fell to 1-1. 'I'm not sure exactly what it is,' Rourke told reporters after the game of the possible injury to his midsection. 'I won't speculate, but it was affecting the way I was throwing it. I couldn't throw it, so I thought it was better for the team if I took myself out at that point because I wasn't able to generate enough power on the ball.' He said he's optimistic he'll be ready to go when the Lions host the Bombers in a June 21 rematch. Keric Wheatfall had Winnipeg's other TD reception, finishing with five catches for 127 yards. Sergio Castillo booted field goals from 49 and 50 yards for Winnipeg, but missed from 47 yards out. He made three of his four convert attempts and the Bombers also picked up a point off a punt single. Keon Hatcher caught a 77-yard TD pass for the Lions and finished with four catches for 150 yards. Sean Whyte hit field goals from 21 and 37 yards and connected on two converts. The Bombers led 10-3 after the first quarter, 18-10 at halftime and 28-20 heading into the fourth. 'I believe in our guys' ability to fight and make plays down the stretch,' Lions head coach Buck Pierce said. "They've got to understand it's a game of opportunities and we didn't start the way that we wanted to start the game or the first half, for that matter.' After Demski's opening touchdown, the Bombers boosted their lead thanks to a turnover. Defensive back Marquise Bridges intercepted a tipped Rourke pass attempt, leading to Castillo's 49-yarder and a 10-0 lead at 8:39. Rourke, who was pressured by Winnipeg's defence all game, ran for 36 yards to get his team to Winnipeg's 13-yard line but the Lions settled for Whyte's 21-yarder at 10:23. The five-foot-nine 208-pound Peterson ran 38 yards for his touchdown at 7:25 of the second quarter. Winnipeg got the punt single four minutes later to go up 18-3. Rourke ran two yards for a score with nine seconds remaining in the half. After Wheatfall's 30-yard TD catch at 7:57 of the third quarter, Hatcher made an over-the-shoulder grab for his 77-yard score. Whyte's 37-yard field goal squeezed the score to 28-20 at 11:28. Demski hauled in a four-yard TD catch in the corner of the end zone at 3:48 of the fourth. Winnipeg got another turnover off a fumbled B.C. kickoff return, but Castillo went wide on his field-goal attempt and the ball was run out. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 12, 2025. Judy Owen, The Canadian Press
