Lions’ Lulay listed as “week-to-week”
B.C. quarterback won’t be back anytime soon, has dislocated shoulder
SURREY — Yet another injury has Travis Lulay back on the sidelines.
The veteran B.C. Lions quarterback had his left shoulder dislocated when he was tackled by Montreal Alouettes defensive end John Bowman in the first quarter of Friday’s game. The 34-year-old is now week to week. Lulay said he’s disappointed, but feeling “pretty good” and hoping to make it back into the lineup before the end of the season.
The Lions have a 5-6 record with seven games left.
“I’m optimistic,” Lulay said after practice Tuesday. “I’ve dealt with it before. I could do shoulder rehab in my sleep. I know this thing.”
The dislocated shoulder is the latest in a long string of injuries for Lulay. Four of those have come when he started in games against Montreal in September.
Lulay said he has no way to explain the pattern.
“It’s to the point where it’s hard to say it’s a fluke,” he said. “If I get the chance (to play Montreal in September) again, I might have to think about that.”
The current shoulder injury is less severe than it originally appeared to be, but the team won’t rush in getting Lulay back into the lineup, said Lions coach Wally Buono.
“Part of this is to see how well he recovers, see how strong he gets,” Buono said. “And the fact that every day he seems to be better is very positive.”
Jonathan Jennings took over at QB on Friday and threw for 180 yards with one touchdown and one interception in the Lions’ 32-14 win.
It was the second game in a row where Lulay started but was sidelined with an injury mid-match.
Jennings stepped in both times and was able to perform in high-pressure situations, Buono said.
“The thing that’s most impressive is that when we’ve needed to get the momentum, he’s able to get a drive together,” he said.
“If standing on the sidelines has helped him see things in a better perspective, has helped him maybe to slow his eyes and his mind down, then we’ll be better for it.”
The 26-year-old Jennings started in the Lions’ first three games of the year as Lulay rehabbed a knee injury, but he struggled, throwing for just 487 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.
Since then, Jennings has become more comfortable with the offence and has twice done what was needed to win football games.
Jennings will be back in the starting spot on Saturday when the Lions host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
“It’s just the next guy up mentality. I’ve got to do my job,” Jennings said. “I’ve got to play football to help this team win.”
The coaching staff isn’t overly concerned about changing quarterbacks at this stage of the season.
“We have confidence in (Jennings),” said Buono. “We have to then get everyone else around him to do their job, so it’s not just pressure on the quarterback, it’s pressure on the unit.”