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B.C. Lions get back defensive linemen Jonah Tavai, Kemoko Turay against Riders
By 3Down Staff -July 18, 2025
The B.C. Lions are getting some bodies back along the defensive line ahead of their matchup with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Defensive tackle Jonah Tavai will make his return as a starter after missing the last three games with a calf injury. The 24-year-old is in his second season with the team, recording six tackles and one sack in three games prior to his injury. He is the team's highest-graded run defender according to ProFootballFocus, posting a mark of 85.2.
Also back in the rotation will be former NFL second-round pick Kemoko Turay, who has completed his one-game suspension for instigating a fight following the team's victory in Montreal. In five CFL games, the 30-year-old defensive end has collected six defensive tackles and two sacks.
Rookie defensive end Jalil Clemons has been returned to the practice roster to accommodate the moves and defensive tackle Marcus Moore will be a healthy scratch. Defensive tackle DeWayne Hendrix (thigh) will sit out another week despite being a full participant in practice, while Global gap plugger Tibo Debaillie (ankle) remains limited on the one-game injured list.
The B.C. Lions (3-3) will host the Saskatchewan Roughriders (4-1) at BC Place Stadium on Saturday, July 19 with kickoff slated for 7:00 p.m. EDT. The Roughriders are coming off a 24-10 home loss to Calgary, while the Lions ran roughshod over the Elks in Edmonton to record a second straight win.
The game will be broadcast on TSN and CTV in Canada, CBS Sports Network in the United States, and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune-in on 620 CKRM in Regina and 730 CKNW in Vancouver.
https://3downnation.com/2025/07/18/b-c-lions-get-back-defensive-linemen-jonah-tavai-kemoko-turay-against-riders/
Canadian receiver Samuel Emilus returns for Saskatchewan Roughriders vs B.C.
By 3Down Staff -July 18, 2025
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are getting a couple of impactful Canadian stars back in the lineup for their clash with the B.C. Lions on Saturday.
Chief among the returns is receiver Samuel Emilus, who has missed the last three games with a foot injury. The 27-year-old native of Montreal, Que. made 12 catches for 170 yards and one touchdown through the first two games this season and crossed the 100-yard mark in Week 2 against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats before getting hurt.
Emilus was a first-round pick in the 2022 CFL Draft out of Louisiana Tech University. He has since played 52 regular-season games with the Roughriders, making 179 receptions for 2,496 yards and 12 touchdowns.
With backup Canadian pass catcher Tommy Nield also returning after battling an ankle injury, hometown product Mitch Picton will be a healthy scratch and rookie receiver D'Sean Mimbs returns to the practice roster.
Also back after a one-week absence is Canadian cornerback Tevaughn Campbell, who has recovered from a groin issue. The 32-year-old native of Scarborough, Ont. started Saskatchewan's first four games, recording 12 defensive tackles, two interceptions, and one touchdown.
Campbell joined the Roughriders as a free agent this offseason following a six-year run in the NFL as a member of the New York Jets, Los Angeles Chargers, Las Vegas Raiders, and Jacksonville Jaguars. His return knocks American Antoine Brooks Jr. back to the practice roster.
The Riders will be without star returner Mario Alford (hip), who has officially been placed on the one-game injured list. The 34-year-old has had a sensational start to the season, entering this week as the CFL leader in kickoff return average (30.9) with a touchdown already under his belt. He will be replaced by rookie Drae McCray from Texas Tech, who shone in the preseason.
There will also be a switch on Trevor Harris' blindside, as Canadian left tackle Daniel Johnson (shoulder) has been ruled out on the one-game injured list. American rookie Darius Washington will get the start in his first career CFL game out of Florida State. On the other side of the line of scrimmage, backup defensive tackle Caleb Sanders returns from a back injury and makes end Aaron Patrick a healthy scratch.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders (4-1) will visit the B.C. Lions (3-3) at BC Place Stadium on Saturday, July 19 with kickoff slated for 7:00 p.m. EDT. The Roughriders are coming off a 24-10 home loss to Calgary, while the Lions ran roughshod over the Elks in Edmonton to record a second straight win.
The game will be broadcast on TSN and CTV in Canada, CBS Sports Network in the United States, and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune-in on 620 CKRM in Regina and 730 CKNW in Vancouver.
https://3downnation.com/2025/07/18/canadian-receiver-samuel-emilus-returns-for-saskatchewan-roughriders-vs-b-c/
Sask has got way too many injuries in their secondary to be successful.
Rourke needs to make em pay!
Somebody go wake BC up and tell them to get to the stadium. Riders are all over them!!
Vernon Adams is enjoying this game.
Quote from: markf on July 19, 2025, 11:35:34 PMVernon Adams is enjoying this game.
Don't agree
BC bad start, amazing TD.
BC D is Swiss cheese.
Orange cats need a TD heading to halftime.
It just goes to show, you can have a good QB but if you can't keep him clean, he's going to have a rough game.
Holy crap! That was vicious! Awe on Ka'Deem Carey. Sounded like a shotgun going off. Looks like he blew up his knee. Had to be carried off. He'll be gone a while.
BC with a late TD but only 19 seconds left. Too little too late.
Lions are a disappointment for me. All of the effort by the owner to get people interested, but the team is not great.
Not saying he's bad, but why did Buck go with Benivedes? He hasn't had a lot of success has he?
Lions defence is not very good. Yeah, their Secondary looks lost on a lot of plays. Not much pressure from The d line.
Betts not doing much. Receivers not really getting open. Rourke pressured a lot. His stats for this game are going to be below average.
Re B.C. challenge on no call,for pi by Sask.... Sask player clearly grabbed the receivers arm before the ball got there. Play reviewed... no penalty. That was stupid.
Buck not invested enough in running the ball, should pick up Kevin Brown for a one-two punch. Rourke has to play like Houdini to drive the field. Riders are better than I thought, Bombers may not be able to handle them if they play without passion.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on July 20, 2025, 02:00:07 AMBuck not invested in running the ball, Rourke has to play like Houdini to drive the field. Riders are better than I thought, Bombers may not be able to handle them if they play without passion.
Lions have a penchant for the deep big play too often. It shows. Feast or famine.
That EITS RTP for Rourke in the 2nd Q... so typical of the CFL. They let Zach get concussed out for a few weeks last night, then close the barn door by being extra careful, "sending a message", the night after. On a QB who is like 22yo and has zero risk of concussion. LOL
The timing on both hits was virtually identical -- right after the ball was released.
Edit: haha, and then the RTP right at the end of the 1st H. T.Harris was a runner at that point, right at the LoS running with speed. The fact he chucks it at the last second doesn't negate him being out of the pocket, and not "re-establishing" the pocket.
Therefore his only special protection at that time is against head shots. This was a perfect "form tackle" hit. The fact it was a tenth of a second "late" doesn't apply out of the pocket.
None of this extra QB protection helps Zach any...
Gotta watch cheatin' SSK on FG attempts. 2Q4:09 they get called on IP for a chipshot FG, because the SSK C jerked his head up (even though BC jumped O/S right after).
So the head-lift was obvious, however often "allowed" as normal C movement (just like pointing, etc). But what also drew BC offside was the LG moves his hand in right at the same time. Check out the live shot and you'll see his black-gloved hand move.
SSK is 100% practicing and planning little tricks to get a free offside on 3rd & 6 (or less). And their punishment is, at worst, 5Y penalty, which won't matter when it's a chipshot (actually helps).
Something to remember for our 3 games against them.
Notice how T.Harris pumpfakes away from the real target many times a game, then throws to another guy who is wide open.
We need to get Zach pumpfaking. He basically never does. Doing it makes everyone jump to the fake route. That's how you get guys open.
I've been saying this for a few weeks now. It's a major limitation of Zach and/or our O/OC.
With Carey done for the season, Riders will most likely sign RB Kevin Brown.
The Lions go as far as their defence takes them and that's not very far.
Buck needs to get them ready to play from the first kickoff to the last second. So far, they've been dominated in the first quarter if they don't fix that, they can't win enough to get a home playoff game.
Rourke was off last night. Overthrew a couple of deep shots and a couple of outs. Inconstancy is the hallmark of young QB's.
At least they got the lipstick on the pig TD at the end. Made the score look better than the game.
Quote from: TecnoGenius on July 20, 2025, 08:07:32 AMNotice how T.Harris pumpfakes away from the real target many times a game, then throws to another guy who is wide open.
We need to get Zach pumpfaking. He basically never does. Doing it makes everyone jump to the fake route. That's how you get guys open.
I've been saying this for a few weeks now. It's a major limitation of Zach and/or our O/OC.
Harris is very good at moving the D around with his fakes and you're right, Zack doesn't do fakes at all. It's time he tried!!
Quote from: dd on July 20, 2025, 03:39:21 PMHarris is very good at moving the D around with his fakes and you're right, Zack doesn't do fakes at all. It's time he tried!!
yup. and our play action is kinda week too.
fat and sassy - coaching and playing...we are rather vanilla and when the players see the coaches giving a partial effort on play designs and little things like no pump fakes the players will respond with the same effort.
Quote from: TecnoGenius on July 20, 2025, 07:31:42 AMThat EITS RTP for Rourke in the 2nd Q... so typical of the CFL. They let Zach get concussed out for a few weeks last night, then close the barn door by being extra careful, "sending a message", the night after. On a QB who is like 22yo and has zero risk of concussion. LOL
The timing on both hits was virtually identical -- right after the ball was released.
Edit: haha, and then the RTP right at the end of the 1st H. T.Harris was a runner at that point, right at the LoS running with speed. The fact he chucks it at the last second doesn't negate him being out of the pocket, and not "re-establishing" the pocket.
Therefore his only special protection at that time is against head shots. This was a perfect "form tackle" hit. The fact it was a tenth of a second "late" doesn't apply out of the pocket.
None of this extra QB protection helps Zach any...
Zach was concussed the same way Harris was 2 weeks earlier, knocked or taken down heavily causing the head to bounce off the turf. Don't know what can be done about that as "it's football", but due to the complexity of the D schemes the QB's are the the only players on the field that can tie together the chaos and make it functional, which creates the entertainment value. Seriously not interested in watching teams flail away unable to put together a drive or even get first downs.
They have to protect the QB's better in a sense make them untouchable, the kickers already enjoy this status so it's not a totally ludicrous concept. They could start by putting a yellow vest on them like they wear in practice (also soccer goalie) and perhaps a vest with large sensors on the front and back that need to be slapped to set it off. It wouldn't change the actual game all that much but it would allow the QB to play without fear of being destroyed, which would increase their confidence in staying in the pocket and making plays. This rule would only protect them in the backfield, once upfield current rules apply, slide or get hit.
SSK is a lot better then I thought they would be. I don't know if they can beat Calgary but our team will have our hands full, especially if Collaros is out. They have no killer instinct as that game in BC could have been over at half time. BC needs a DC. :'(
here is the condensed game - all the plays and replays of the big plays.
enjoy
https://youtu.be/mpXJINsC-tc?si=4Sn978qGBAFV66OR
Brutal jump by Pimpleton just plain ugly football.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on July 20, 2025, 04:40:06 PMThey have to protect the QB's better in a sense make them untouchable, the kickers already enjoy this status so it's not a totally ludicrous concept. They could start by putting a yellow vest on them like they wear in practice (also soccer goalie) and perhaps a vest with large sensors on the front and back that need to be slapped to set it off.
Ya, I've mentioned doing some sort of touch-sensor thing in the past. However, it would be a drastic change because it would stop all the slip-aways the slippery QBs regularly do. And there would be a lot less desperation throw-aways (and concomitant INTs) that so many QBs throw after being touched.
We have to make sure we're not just being biased because we have a aged, concussion-prone QB. I doubt you'd get any other team fan base to agree, except maybe SSK. If you had Rourke or Alexander you wouldn't care as much about protecting the QB!
I still think putting (a lot!) more super-light-weight crumple-zone / pillows on the back of QB helmets would go a long way. We need the "geriatric helmet", specially designed for the QBs who already have a ton of head hits under their belt.
If I m collaros and I come back, I d be wearing a guardian cap, but I know he won't do it, it's not the cool thing to do. The league should mandate guardian caps on qbs to protect them from themselves. How many Qbs have been concussed so far this year?? It's significant.
Quote from: dd on July 21, 2025, 01:31:18 AMIf I m collaros and I come back, I d be wearing a guardian cap
He needs a "guardian cap" that just has the padding in the back. The front could just be straps. Someone invent this! So many more old QBs in both leagues. One would think you could eliminate all fall-on-back concussions.