B.C. Lions: Insights As Elite Sensation was ‘totally crushed’ not getting starting spot back Prior major Setback

“What might have been remains uncertain. We really can’t know for sure,” said the player on Monday.

The player expressed feeling “totally crushed” when he wasn’t automatically given the starting quarterback position with the B.C. Lions after recovering from an injury.

This sentiment emerged during the Lions’ year-end media session on Monday at their Surrey headquarters. Following a 28-19 loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the West Division semifinals, their promising season came to an unfortunate end.

Owner Amar Doman had secured the Grey Cup for B.C. Place and invested heavily to bring in renowned rapper 50 Cent for a pre-game concert at the season opener. The Lions began the season strong with a 5-1 record, leading to discussions around individual accolades.

The team was 5-3 when the player suffered a knee injury against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, which sidelined him. Doman responded by signing Nathan Rourke, bringing him back to the Lions after his unsuccessful NFL pursuit. Rourke had excelled at quarterback for B.C. in 2022, and interestingly, the player had filled in for him during half of that season when Rourke dealt with an ankle injury.

There’s a common saying in football that you shouldn’t lose your starting position due to injury. Rourke, 26, was prepared to return for the regular season finale, and he took the field. This time, head coach Rick Campbell decided to stick with Rourke, even when Adams was seemingly healthy enough to play. B.C. finished the season with a 3-5 record while Rourke was starting before Adams was brought back for the regular season finale, a 27-3 victory against the Montreal Alouettes, which left B.C. with a final record of 9-9.

Adams, 31, took the lead once again on Saturday. When asked on Monday how often he thinks about what might have happened if he had regained control of the offense earlier, he replied, “Man, pretty much every other day. It’s tough. We were in first place, and then it all slipped away with some losses. It’s hard to describe. What could have happened remains uncertain; we really don’t know.”

He quickly praised Campbell, referring to him as “still one of my favorite coaches,” and recalled how Campbell supported him last season even after a game where he threw six interceptions against the Toronto Argonauts.

“When they told me they weren’t sure when I would get my spot back, it really devastated me,” Adams said about this season. “I won’t lie about that, but I wasn’t going to complain. I just had to show up to work every day with a positive attitude and contribute however I could. I believe I did that and kept the energy up. I wasn’t going to bring anyone down.”

Campbell also insisted on Monday that it’s overly simplistic to attribute this season’s struggles solely to the quarterback situation, stating, “I think the issue was with our entire football team.” To some degree, he’s correct. The Lions had other issues; notably, the defense allowed too many big plays at crucial moments. Throughout the season, all three units—offense, defense, and special teams—seemed to make momentum-shifting plays during crucial stretches.

When a season derails like this one, it’s important to examine every aspect closely. The CFL is a league that relies heavily on quarterbacks, and B.C. struggled to regain its rhythm after Adams was sidelined in August. Players were vocal about their desire for him to have another opportunity. Running back William Stanback, for instance, discussed how positive the team’s mood was leading up to Saturday’s game and credited “having our leader back under center.”

Due to salary cap limitations, B.C. won’t be able to retain both Adams and Rourke for the upcoming season. Both players have contracts with the team through 2026. Neil McEvoy, who shares general manager responsibilities with Campbell, hasn’t ruled out the possibility of trading either quarterback, but it seems likely they will choose to keep Rourke, especially given the excitement he has generated nationally since 2022. The Lions even mentioned the popularity of Rourke souvenir jerseys that season, which is quite uncommon in the CFL.

Adams noted that McEvoy mentioned the team’s leadership should have a clearer idea of their future plans after the Grey Cup.

“I’ve asked them to keep me informed,” Adams said. “We’ll see how things unfold with other teams, whether it’s here or somewhere else.”

He also expressed his desire to have a say in any potential trade, stating, “I want input on where I end up.”

Campbell stated that the Lions, as a team, struggled with “consistency,” and that their 9-9 regular season record accurately reflected their performance. “We had some strong moments, but at times we also fell short,” he said, noting that evaluations and planning for the next year will take place in the coming weeks.

One can assume that Doman will be assessing Campbell, McEvoy, and the rest of the staff. There were no comments from the owner to the media on Monday.

“I’m glad the narrative has changed. When I arrived, a 9-9 record and making the playoffs would have felt like a success,” Campbell remarked in response to questions about his pitch to remain. “I’m pleased that we’ve now reached a point where ‘just making the playoffs’ isn’t acceptable. I’m excited that we’ve raised our standards.

“I’m fully committed. It’s been a long season, but even today I feel energized about being here and looking ahead. I believe we have many of the right elements in place.”