The BC Lions’ top-ranked passing game is clicking on all cylinders, but there is certainly room for Keon Hatcher to rejoin the group.
Hatcher will be on the field Thursday night for the first time since rupturing an Achilles tendon last November when BC visits the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Ironically, Hatcher’s injury occurred during a 24-13 postseason loss to the Blue Bombers.
“I’m happy to be back with the guys,” Hatcher said earlier this week. “I’m ready now to go chase this Grey Cup. My first game back, ironically, is in Winnipeg. It comes full circle. I’m excited and very thankful.”
Hatcher was a force the previous two seasons. He caught 70 passes for 1,043 yards and five touchdowns in 2022 and accumulated 78 catches for 1,226 yards and six scores last season. The yardage was second most in the CFL last season.
BC (5-2) has averaged league-leading 342.1 passing yards per game without Hatcher. Justin McInnis has a league-best 780 receiving yards and Alexander Hollins is third with 663.
Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. leads the CFL with 2,395 yards and ranks second with 14 scoring passes.
The Lions are looking to win the season series against Winnipeg (2-6) for the first time since taking two of three in 2017.
The Blue Bombers struggled at the outset of this season with four straight setbacks. They also fell 16-14 in overtime at the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday and now badly need a victory against BC.
Quarterback Zach Collaros, a two-time CFL Most Outstanding Player of the Year, has been intercepted a league-worst eight times while passing for 1,723 yards and only three touchdowns.
“Obviously, everybody feels not great at the moment with the way things have gone thus far,” Collaros said.
Winnipeg has had injury issues at receiver and earlier lost Kenny Lawler (broken arm) and Dalton Schoen (season-ending knee injury). Then Drew Wolitarsky (shoulder) was injured against Toronto and was placed on the six-game injury list.
The carnage leaves Nic Demski (33 catches, 419 yards) and Ontaria “Pokey” Wilson (30 for 463) as the team’s top wideouts in a now-thin unit.
“That’s what it feels like a little bit right now,” Demski said. “We’ve got great guys who are in their first year in the league and they’re making tremendous strides. They’re working hard, too, and they want to be leaders on this team as well. It’s all about the next man up, and everybody understands that.”
–Field Level Media
