The B.C. Lions will have almost all of their projected starters in the lineup when they play their second and final preseason game on Thursday evening, including quarterback Vernon Adams Jr.
The veteran passer joined the club midway through last season after being acquired via trade from the Montreal Alouettes. He threw for 1,504 yards, six touchdowns, and one interception over eight games with the team and went 4-2 as a starter.
CFL rookie Antonio Williams will start at running back, which could be an indication that he is first for the starting role. The five-foot-eleven, 215-pound ball-carrier had NFL stints with the Buffalo Bills and New York Giants following a college career at Ohio State and North Carolina. James Butler, who started for the club last season, is now a member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Canadian offensive lineman Michael Couture will make his much-anticipated debut for the Lions after signing with them as a free agent this past off-season. The native of Burnaby, B.C. spent the first six seasons of his career with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers after being selected in the second round of the 2016 CFL Draft out of Simon Fraser University.
Jonathan Kongbo will also make his Lions debut after signing with the team following a year with the Denver Broncos. The native of Surrey, B.C. was a first-round pick of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the 2019 CFL Draft made 29 total tackles and three sacks over 26 games with the team.
The only two players who will not dress for the Lions are American receiver Keon Hatcher and Canadian defensive end Josh Archibald. Hatcher caught 70 passes for 1,043 yards and five touchdowns last season, while Archibald dressed for 10 games in a depth role.
The Lions will host the Calgary Stampeders for their second and final preseason game on Thursday evening with kickoff slated for 10:30 p.m. EDT.
