B.C. Lions get their QB back, with Nathan Rourke set to start Saturday
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As a gag, the Lions had rookie defensive back Jackson Findlay, who bears a resemblance to Rourke, pull on the quarterback's No. 12 jersey after practice, step in front of the microphones and answer a few questions as the pivot. The media were all in on the joke and played along.
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These are happy times with the Lions in large part because Rourke didn't have to share his other duties at practice. He took all the first team repetitions Thursday and head coach Buck Pierce says that Rourke, who missed the past two games with an oblique injury, will start Saturday (4 p.m.) when B.C. (1-3) visits the Montreal Alouettes (3-1).
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This upcoming lineup, with Rourke back as the centrepiece, is closer to what the Lions envisioned when they put this team together in the off-season. Of course, whether Findlay will pitch in during the post-game scrums going forward for Rourke remains to be seen.
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'He's looked good all week. He's responded better each and every day,' Pierce said of Rourke, the 27-year-old passer who was born in Victoria and raised in Oakville, Ont.
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'The mistakes from the previous weeks we've used as fuel for learning lessons and hopefully it's making us stronger. Obviously, having Nathan out there, with his operation and what he does … I think it looks like it should right now.'
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Rourke had thrown the ball deeper every practice this week. Pierce said Thursday that he didn't believe that there would be any limitations for Rourke Saturday, explaining that 'I think he's feeling good right now.'
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The B.C. offence looked crisp in the 31-14 season-opening win over the Edmonton Elks on June 7, going for 446 yards of net offence. That included 324 yards of passing from Rourke, who was 27-of-36 on the night with three touchdowns and no interceptions.
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Rourke was injured in the fourth quarter of a 34-20 loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on June 12. Jeremiah Masoli, who was added in the off-season as a free agent, got the start at quarterback in the 27-14 defeat to Winnipeg on June 21 and a 37-18 setback to the Saskatchewan Roughriders last Saturday.
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After four weeks, B.C. is second in the nine-team CFL in net offence (377.8 yards per game) but just eighth in points (20.8 per game).
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'I feel good,' Rourke said Thursday after taking over the media proceedings from Findlay. 'The goal has always been to play. That was the goal last week as well … just did a little too much too soon. Hopefully we're not at that point this time around.'
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