Harris, Redblacks face off with Lions

It wasn’t that long ago Chris Williams was terrorizing CFL defences.

The speedy receiver opened the 2016 CFL season with a bang, registering 25 catches for 493 yards and six TDs in Ottawa’s first three games. He and quarterback Trevor Harris developed an immediate chemistry as Harris’s first completion as a Redblack was a 71-yard touchdown pass to Williams, who finished that game with eight catches for 176 yards and two touchdowns.

Harris returns under centre for Ottawa (4-3-1) on Thursday night when it hosts the B.C. Lions (5-3).

Ottawa began its season 3-0-1 before Harris suffered knee and ankle injuries in a 30-29 loss to Saskatchewan on July 22. Veteran Henry Burris, the CFL’s outstanding player last season, was removed from the six-game injured list an re-inserted into the lineup.

Burris was Ottawa’s starter in its season-opening 45-37 win over Edmonton but gave way to Harris in the third quarter after suffering an injured pinky finger.

The five-foot-nine, 155-pound Williams hasn’t recorded a 100-yard receiving game since a 20-catch, 130-yard effort in a 26-26 home tie against Calgary on July 8. He’s recorded 25 receptions for 291 yards and two TDs in Ottawa’s last five contests but did finish with five catches for 97 yards and a touchdown in last week’s surprising 43-19 loss to Montreal.

Williams remains third among CFL receivers behind Edmonton’s Adarius Bowman and Derel Walker with 50 catches for 784 yards and eight touchdowns. But after their impressive start, the Redblacks have lost three of its last four and are just 1-2-1 at TD Place.

B.C. comes off a decisive 37-9 home loss to Calgary in what was expected to be a much closer battle between the West Division’s top two teams. Jonathon Jennings was just 10-of-22 passing for 153 yards while backup Travis Lulay completed 4-of-7 passes for 19 yards as the Lions failed to scored a TD.

Linebackers Solomon Elimimian (game-high 11 tackles) and Adam Bighill (nine tackles) were solid statistically but the Lions’ defence had no answer for Calgary starter Bo Levi Mitchell, who threw for 340 yards and two TDs. However, B.C. is 3-1 on the road this season.

Pick – B.C.