Bighill poised to make 1st appearance at B.C. Place Stadium as a Bomber, foe

It will be a homecoming of sorts for Adam Bighill.

The veteran linebacker makes his first regular-season appearance at B.C. Place Stadium on Saturday since 2016 when he was with the Lions. But the 5-foot-10, 230-pound Bighill is now a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, signing with them in May shortly after being released by the NFL’s New Orleans Saints.

Bighill has already made a major impact against his former team. He had six tackles and two interceptions — returning one 55 yards for a touchdown — in Winnipeg’s 41-19 home win over B.C. last weekend, earning one of the CFL’s top performer nods Tuesday.

“I wouldn’t say I spend a lot of time thinking about (returning to B.C.), but I’ve definitely had it in my mind,” Bighill said. “At the end of the day, it’s not a big deal, but it’s a lot easier (after facing the Lions last week).

“There’s a layer of difference here, but it’s the same.”

Bighill, 29, enjoyed a productive tenure in B.C. from 2011 to 2016. The CFL’s top defensive player in 2015, Bighill tallied 489 defensive tackles, 69 special-teams tackles, 33 sacks, eight interceptions, eight forced fumbles and a defensive touchdown with the Lions.

Bighill has picked up with Winnipeg where he left off in 2016 with 27 tackles, second only to Montreal’s Chris Ackie (30).

“It’s been like riding a bike,” Bighill said of his CFL return. “The toughest part was coming in and getting the terminology down.

“That took about three days and then I was back to full go.”

But Bighill expects to face a determined B.C. squad Saturday night. And that could also include a different quarterback in the form of veteran Travis Lulay, who led the Lions to the 2011 Grey Cup title after being named the CFL’s outstanding player.

“I don’t think we got their best shot,” Bighill said. “From that standpoint, we’re going to be hard at work making sure we’re on top of our stuff and ready for anything they have.”

Although he signed a one-year deal with Winnipeg, Bighill doesn’t have aspirations to return to the NFL.

“I think it is something I’m kind of done with,” he said. “I went down there and proved to myself at least that I can play in that league.”

The Canadian Press Winnipeg Blue Bombers linebacker Adam Bighill runs with the ball after intercepting a B.C. Lions’ pass during second-half CFL action in Winnipeg this past Saturday. Bighill took it for a pick-six touchdown in a 41-19 home win for Winnipeg.