Rib harm might shelve B.C. Lions linebacker Bo Lokombo for prolonged stint

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It sounds just like the B.C. Lions might must make a go with out Bo Lokombo for an prolonged interval.

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Lokombo (ribs/lungs) made a cease on the hospital after the Lions’ final sport, a 34-25 win on the highway over the Montreal Alouettes on Sept. 2. The workforce, which is coming off a bye week and prepping to play the Ottawa Redblacks on Saturday at B.C. Place, isn’t positive when the 32-year-old outdoors linebacker from Abbotsford would possibly return to motion.

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“We’re going to see. We’re hopeful that he’ll be again this yr. He’s undoubtedly out this sport,” head coach Rick Campbell stated after apply Monday. “We’ll see how he progresses. It’s gone higher than possibly that we thought it might, as he’s feeling a bit bit higher. That’s good. We’ll see the way it performs out.

“He ended up having to get in there (to the hospital) and getting checked out. Fortunately all the pieces is OK. He took a fairly good shot there. He’s undoubtedly on the mend. We hope that occurs as quick it will probably occur.”

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Neil McEvoy, who shares normal supervisor duties with Campbell, says the harm is much like the one which shelved wide-receiver Bryan Burnham for 4 video games.

The Lions (8-4) have six video games left within the common season, beginning with Ottawa (3-9).

Josh Woods, 25, is predicted to start out in Lokombo’s place. Woods is from Ontario, Calif., performed collegiately with the UCLA Bruins and signed on with B.C. initially in 2021. The 6-foot-2, 234-pounder has been seeing frequent snaps on defence this yr, so he’s well-versed to the methods.

“I’m simply going to be Josh,” Woods stated when requested if there was strain to make up for all the pieces that Lokombo brings to the Lions. “That is my first time beginning up right here, however I’ve been a beginning linebacker earlier than in my life. I do know it’s a bit totally different right here, however it’s actually nothing new. It’s about enjoying my sport, being myself and speaking with Ben (Hladik, B.C.’s center linebacker).

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“It at all times sucks seeing guys getting accidents, however it’s part of the game. It’s my time to step up.”

Campbell added: “We use him rather a lot on particular groups and defence. Good athlete. Good participant for the CFL. He matches all these talent units. I’m joyful that he’ll get a full-time alternative.”

Campbell has talked up the workforce’s depth at varied positions being key this season.

“It’s a part of soccer. You must different guys step in when guys go down. We’re hoping that we get some guys again within the coming weeks and we’re as wholesome as we will be for the stretch,” Campbell continued.

A type of guys is receiver Dominique Rhymes (knee). He was figuring out on his personal at apply on Monday. He stays on the six-game injured listing. He hasn’t performed since a 50-14 shellacking by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Aug. 3.

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“He’s going to indicate up prior to later, however the plan is to not play him this week,” Campbell stated. “It’s at a degree the place he’s itching to go, which is sweet information.

“We simply wish to ensure that he’s totally wholesome. Once we dedicated to doing this (placing him on six-game listing), we sat down and had a dialog and informed him, ‘We wish to offer you a relaxation to the place your physique can really feel the place it must really feel in order that he can play the way in which he needs to play.’ We wish to make certain that he’s 100 per cent good to go. All indications are that he can be and we’ll play him as quickly as we’re at that time.

“We clearly didn’t do that by alternative however we’ve sufficient guys round right here who stepped in. Our receiving group is extra of a veteran group who’s been round right here for a number of years now. Good on these guys for carrying the load when he’s been out.”

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Offensive lineman Phillip Norman was additionally again at apply on Monday. He collapsed on the sector earlier than a apply in June, struggling what the workforce known as then a “important medical episode.” The Lions have stated that every one checks got here again unfavourable and there was no definitive trigger for the state of affairs.

“I used to be joyful for him,” Campbell stated of Norman’s return to apply. “I keep in mind when he was mendacity in a hospital mattress a few months in the past. To see him again right here on the sector is fairly neat to see. He’ll be a man who’ll be obtainable, too, earlier than the season is over.”

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