Injuries testing depth of Lions bench
NEXT MAN UP: Moore’s season-ending ACL tear has B.C. trying versatile Boldewijn at slotback position Mike Beamish
Next Man Up.
With those three little words, the B.C. Lions trust the loss of slotback Nick Moore won’t disrupt the rhythm of a 3-1 start. So far, Next Man Up is working. “That’s how we have to be. That’s the nature of the game,” veteran quarterback Travis Lulay said. “(Running back) Jeremiah Johnson had a couple of nice games, and then he went down (ankle). In came Anthony Allen, and he’s played at a high level for us. Kirby Fabien is another example. We plugged Kirby right back in (Fabien replaced starting right guard Charles Vaillancourt, out with a concussion). We have good depth. Right now, it’s done us good in the early going.”
Moore tore his anterior cruciate ligament in Saturday’s 40-27 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders through what appeared to be an over-exuberant touchdown celebration. He scored on a pass from Jonathon Jennings to complete a 30-yard play early in the fourth quarter. After clutching his knee in apparent pain, Moore continued to play and finished the game.
A medical evaluation undertaken after the team’s return to Vancouver — the Lions are in the midst of a bye week — revealed the worst: an ACL tear. A heralded free agent signing by the Lions in February, Moore now will face surgery and a long rehab.
“Next man up is a cliche. But that’s our expectation,” Lulay said. “We’re not going to do things differently (because of an injury). We’re not calling different plays for the new guy. He would be expected to play at the same speed as the guys we have on the field.”
Moore is the second major casualty suffered by the Lions following Saturday’s game. Halfback T.J. Lee had surgery on Tuesday for a ruptured Achilles and also will be targeting 2017 as a return date. Roster player Steven Clarke or Chandler Fenner, a training camp cut likely to be re-signed, are candidates to replace Lee.
With Moore gone, the Lions assume Geraldo Boldewijn will transition easily into the high-speed offence.
The long-limbed receiver from the Netherlands has been operating at full bore in practice for the past two weeks after overcoming his own health issues.
Boldewijn had a hamstring problem in training camp, compounded by a severe case of the flu which weakened him and caused him to lose excessive weight.
The rangy, 6-foot-4 Dutchman made a single start for the Lions last season — in Game No. 18 against Calgary — but he showed his ability to get open and chew up yards quickly with three catches for 64 yards, including one play of 50 yards on a throw from Lulay.
“He’s long, and he can go up high to catch the ball — that’s one of his strengths,” Lulay said.
“He has that grittiness and griminess to him, too, He wants to compete and get better.”
The fact Boldewijn has played every receiver position in practice shouldn’t make the move to starting status a difficult one, he said.
“I’m around a deep group of guys (receivers),” Boldewijn said. “That’s good. I personally like to be around a competitive situation where nothing is handed to me. It allows me to grow. When I get to start, I know I’ve earned it.”
The most surprising team in the CFL doesn’t expect to miss a beat with Boldewijn in the lineup.