Bruising pale: B.C. Lions get a shot within the arm with the return of Vernon Adams Jr.

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Saskatchewan’s Larry Dean got here steaming by way of the road like a Rocky Mountain Specific, six ft and 220 kilos of unblocked blitzing violence, forcing Vernon Adams Jr. into flight mode — proper into the arms of Roughriders Pete Robertson.

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The sort out that adopted was brutal, the B.C. Lions QB getting his leg trapped beneath and twisted awkwardly whereas being pulled backward.

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It will be the final play of the sport for Adams within the Week 7 matchup, with him limping to the therapy tent and everybody at B.C. Place fearing the worst.

Everybody, besides him.

“I knew it wasn’t a foul tear. (The medical workers) mentioned a bit of sprain, tear, little tear, no matter, however I knew it wasn’t that unhealthy as a result of I acquired up and I began strolling on it,” Adams mentioned at apply on Thursday.

“I used to be similar to, ‘OK, I do know for a truth it’s not too unhealthy, however I do know it hurts, too. Like I’ve by no means felt like this earlier than.

“(After), I used to be sort of relieved and grateful. God had my again that day … and it wasn’t as unhealthy as a few of the different quarterbacks within the league.”

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The knee harm saved him out of the next week in opposition to Edmonton, after which Week 9 in opposition to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, with Dane Evans getting the decision beneath centre.

However it was Evans’ flip to choose up an harm, with Adam Bighill’s stomach flop sort out leaving the Lions QB with a rib harm and on the IR for this week in opposition to Calgary.

However Adams is again, wholesome, and able to go. And grateful to be so, as a result of as painful as his knee harm was, seeing his teammates get pummelled 50-14 by Winnipeg — and never with the ability to do something about it — was injurious in itself.

“Man, they each damage an equal quantity,” he mentioned. “The sport that was powerful, you recognize? All of us ready arduous, Dane ready arduous, and he goes out with a rib harm — and I do know he didn’t wish to exit like that.

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“That (loss) damage all of us, however you recognize we’re making an attempt to maneuver previous that. It feels good now to get again on the sphere with the crew with our brothers and do what we do.”

It was an uncommon web site to see Adams, the beginning quarterback, taking part in water boy to his teammates throughout warm-ups and the sport, and being entrance of the road alongside receiver Dominque Rhymes — who was additionally held out of final week’s sport — to offer high-fives and play cheerleader.

“That’s at all times been me,” mentioned Adams. “Even when I can’t contribute, like when Nathan (Rourke) got here again final 12 months, I simply wish to be the last word teammate.

“I don’t wish to sit again and whine or no matter. I’ll let the blokes know I’m there for them, and that’s it. No matter I can. In the event that they want me to get them water, in the event that they want me to go get something from the locker room, that’s what I wish to be for them.”

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This week that meant giving them a lift by returning to the apply discipline. Classes appeared brisker the previous few days than they did on a brief turnaround within the result in the sport in opposition to the Bombers.

Head coach Rick Campbell mentioned Adams was “two thumbs up” after apply, and his QB appeared unaffected by the brace on his knee or any lingering results from the sack.

He was again to firing frozen ropes to Alex Hollins and Keon Hatcher within the scrimmage in opposition to his defence, and cellular out and in of the picket.

“I’m feeling good, man,” Adams mentioned after apply.

“I acquired this brace on, and I feel it’s giving my thoughts some closure, simply saying ‘OK, you’re good.’

“I ran round right here, did some rollouts, stuff like that in apply, and it felt good. We’ll see the way it goes when guys are operating after me.

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“… There’s at all times ups and downs in apply, nevertheless it felt good to get again out right here. Our defence, truthfully, I feel continues to be the most effective defence within the league. So we’re going in opposition to these guys and I’d get annoyed. Typically I throw an interception or they get a batdown … however within the sport, it’s rather a lot slower. And so long as I’m locked into my reads, my preparation is the following couple of days earlier than the sport, we acquired the playmakers and the defence to make it occur.”

The Lions and Blue Bombers are tied atop the West Division at 6-2, with Saskatchewan (4-4) and Calgary (3-5) shut behind. Winnipeg takes on Edmonton (0-8) at Commonwealth Stadium Thursday evening with an opportunity to increase the Elks’ historic residence shedding streak.

Saturday’s date with the Stampeders at B.C. Place is the fourth of 5 straight video games in opposition to divisional opponents.

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“It’s a huge sport. All these video games are huge. We at all times speak about it each week, and it’s true,” mentioned Campbell. “I feel that’s why folks like soccer, as a result of all of the video games matter.

“We’ve had a nine-day break, which is sweet as a result of we would have liked it. However we’re wanting ahead to getting again on the market.”

[email protected]

Twitter.com/TheRealJJAdams

NEXT GAME

Saturday

Calgary Stampeders at B.C. Lions 

4 p.m., TV: TSN  Radio: AM730

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