Herb Zurkowsky offers five things you should know when the B.C. Lions visit Molson StAdium FridAy (7:30 p.m., TSN, RDS, TSN RAdio-690).
1
Matchup
Although both teams have losing records, both are on winning streaks. Montreal has won its last two games, improving to 3-8. It hasn’t had a threegame winning streak since the end of the 2016 season. And although the Lions are 4-6, they ended a two-game losing skid by defeating Ottawa 26-14 last Friday. It marked the third time this season B.C. has won a game following two straight defeats.
2
Injuries
Other than the Als’ longterm casualties, of which there are many, Canadian linebacker Chris Ackie remains sidelined with a hamstring injury that flared up during the pregame warm-up on Aug. 31 at Ottawa. Starting tailback Tyrell Sutton, who has missed the last two games, could return next week. The Lions have some significant players on their six-game injured list, including receiver Emmanuel Arceneaux (knee), linebacker Solomon Elimimian (wrist) and centre Cody Husband (leg).
3
The QBs
Johnny Manziel’s Thursday outburst over his lack of playing time aside, the Als finally seem to have found some consistency in Antonio Pipkin, who is 2-1 as a starter. After throwing for 303 yards against Toronto, he passed for 242 in a road victory at Ottawa. The Lions, meanwhile, won last week despite Travis Lulay taking a helmet shot to his chin in the second quarter from defensive lineman J.R. Tavai. There was no penalty on the play. Lulay was replaced by Jonathon Jennings, who completed 10 of 12 passes for 68 yards and a TD.
4
The receivers
B.J. Cunningham has been the major beneficiary since the emergence of Pipkin, although most of the Als receivers have elevated their games and are starting to make plays. Cunningham caught eight passes for 107 yards in Montreal’s last game, while Ernest Jackson added three receptions for 80 yards. DeVier Posey will make his Lions debut against Montreal after signing with the team last Monday. Recently released by the Baltimore Ravens, Posey was the most valuable player in last season’s Grey Cup, catching seven passes for 175 yards, including a league-record 100-yard touchdown.
5
This and that
This will be the final trip to Molson Stadium for Lions head coach Wally Buono, expected to retire at season’s end. … B.C. return-specialist Chris Rainey was a healthy scratch last week and is rumoured to be on the trading block. But he’s been activated against the Als, his former team.