LIONS REVVING UP VAN
Running back geared up for Eskimos
The B.C. Lions play their seventh game of the CFL season tonight and they’re already on their fourth starting running back.
That’s if you count return specialist Chris Rainey’s turn as the main ball carrier after Jeremiah Johnson was injured early in the game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers one month ago.
Rainey gave way to Brandon Rutley (knee) the following week. He was hurt, but Johnson (ankle) was ready to step back in last week.
Johnson ended up being reinjured, which, if you are following the bouncing running back job, brings us to Travon Van, who is slated to key the ground game against the Edmonton Eskimos at B.C. Place.
It’s football. Injuries happen. It’s not uncommon. It still doesn’t mean it’s not uncomfortable for a team.
“Everybody here is a professional,” left tackle Joel Figueroa said after Wednesday’s practice at the team’s Surrey headquarters. “It’s next man mentality.
“Guys get paid to play. Guy gets hurt, somebody has to step up. It’s as simple as that. It can happen to any team.
“Travon is fast. And he’s physical. And he’s not afraid to pick up a blitz. These are all pluses. We are excited to get him revved up, ready to go.”
Van, 27, signed with the Lions as a free agent on May 10, following general manager Ed Hervey over from the Eskimos to the Lions. Hervey joined B.C. in November, and Van came to Vancouver nine days after he was released by Edmonton.
He took over the starting gig last year for the Eskimos when John White went down with a knee injury in late June, and put up 103 yards on 18 carries against the Ottawa Redblacks in his first full outing atop the depth chart. He would lose the spot as the showcase back two games later, when he hurt his shoulder against the visiting Lions, oddly enough.
He had been a backup with Ottawa the two previous seasons. For his CFL career, he’s rushed for 705 yards on 152 carries.
“This game is important to me because it’s our next game,” said Van, a 5-11, 205-pounder from San Diego when asked about playing his former team.
“My personal goal is to look out for the B.C. Lions. I’m not looking at revenge. I don’t see it as revenge. Leaving there wasn’t anything bad. It just happened to be a business decision. You can’t make it personal. You do that, and that’s when you get outside your game.”
Van showed well in the Lions’ 36-23 exhibition win on the road against the Calgary Stampeders on June 1 with 72 yards on three kickoff returns and a six-yard touchdown reception. He had four catches for 21 yards.
He left the team soon after that to return to San Diego to help his mother Jeanette with medical issues (she’s on dialysis). He was re-inserted into the Lions’ lineup in last weekend’s 27-18 loss in Calgary, and handled the return duties with Rainey (ankle) sidelined.
Van ran back five punts for 95 yards, highlighted by a 57-yard return. He also returned five kickoffs for 85 yards. He did not have a carry.
Rainey is back in the B.C. lineup to face Edmonton.