The B.C. Lions will be without electric receiver Lucky Whitehead when they take to the field on Saturday night against the Edmonton Elks.
The 31-year-old suffered a pulled hamstring during the team’s Week 1 win over the Calgary Stampeders, finishing with three catches for 28 yards. He was unable to practice throughout the week and was placed on the one-game injured list. He will be replaced by rookie Ayden Eberhardt, who posted seven receptions for 111 yards in two preseason games.
Whitehead has played 43 career games with the Lions and Winnipeg Blue Bombers, notching 192 receptions for 2,480 yards and nine touchdowns. He was named a CFL all-star in 2021, his first thousand-yard season.
The remainder of B.C.’s roster remains unchanged for their home opener. Receiver Keon Hatcher (foot) remains on the six-game injured list and will be joined by kicker Keiran Burnham and offensive lineman Phil Norman, who unexpectedly collapsed during a pre-practice walkthrough on Wednesday.
Offensive lineman Chris Schleuger, defensive lineman Francis Bemiy, linebacker Max Rouyer, and defensive backs Mike Jones and Siriman Harrison Bagayogo are all listed as healthy scratches.
The Lions (1-0) will host the Elks (0-1) on Saturday at BC Place, with kickoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EDT. The game will be preempted by a live performance from rap icon LL Cool J and is expected to feature a large crowd with the upper deck open.
