The B.C. Lions have acquired quarterback Dane Evans from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in exchange for a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2024 CFL Draft. It remains unclear what the conditions regarding the draft selection are.
“We are thrilled to add someone of Dane’s calibre to our quarterback room. You can never have enough proven veterans at QB,” said co-general manager and head coach Rick Campbell in a statement. “Vernon Adams Jr. is our guy and our starter. Led by VA, the QB room will be a key component to our success in 2023.”
The 29-year-old played 63 games as a member of the Ticats over the past five seasons, throwing for 8,807 yards, 45 touchdowns, and 34 interceptions. He also carried the ball 125 times for 511 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The six-foot-one, 218-pound passer joined Hamilton’s practice roster in October 2017 following a brief stint with the Philadelphia Eagles. He played sparingly until Jeremiah Masoli suffered a torn ACL in Week 7 of the 2019 season, at which point he took over the starting role and led the team to a 15-3 record, throwing for 3,754 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions.
Evans returned to the Ticats in a backup role in 2021, though he became the starter in Week 4. He missed half of the CFL’s pandemic-shortened season due to a lower-body injury and finished the year with 787 passing yards with six touchdowns and three interceptions.
The native of Chickasha, Okla. signed a two-year extension with Hamilton in January 2022, leading Masoli to depart for the Ottawa Redblacks. Evans regressed in his first full year as Hamilton’s starter, throwing for 3,883 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions. He was benched at times for Matthew Shiltz, including the East Semi-Final against the Montreal Alouettes.
Hamilton traded for veteran quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell earlier this off-season, fuelling speculation that Evans would not be back for the final year of his contract in 2023. He posted a video to Instagram of moving trucks outside of his Hamilton home shortly following the end of this past CFL season.
B.C. lost Canadian quarterback Nathan Rourke to the Jacksonville Jaguars of the NFL following this past season and Vernon Adams Jr. remains on track to be the team’s starter. Evans should provide depth along with Dominique Davis, who was signed in free agency following a stint with the Montreal Alouettes.
Evans played five seasons at the University of Tulsa from 2012 to 2016 where he threw for 11,680 yards, 84 touchdowns, and 47 interceptions. He finished his tenure with the Golden Hurricans as the program’s all-time leading passer.
LETS GO!!! Ready to get to work with a new crew. Fresh start!! Let’s get it fellas @VernonAdamsJr8 @D_DavisECU 🫡💯🦁 https://t.co/GyRvdeMfvi
— Dane Evans (@daneevans9) February 23, 2023
