The winless Hamilton Tiger-Cats will field a significantly modified roster when they host the B.C. Lions on Sunday.
Making his return to the lineup against his old team is running back James Butler, who missed last week’s loss to Ottawa with a head injury. Rookie rusher Greg Bell, who amassed 92 all-purpose yards on 20 total touches last week, will be a healthy scratch.
Butler has carried the ball 30 times for 156 yards through the first three weeks of the 2024 season, adding nine receptions for 64 yards through the air. He rushed 235 times for 1,116 yards and seven touchdowns in his first season with the Ticats in 2023 while catching 61 passes for 527 yards and a receiving score.
The 29-year-old has gone over the 1,000-yard mark in each of the past two seasons but has yet to earn all-star honours. In 48 career games with the B.C. Lions and Ticats, he has carried 576 times for 2,829 yards and 16 touchdowns to go along with 162 catches for 1,218 yards and six receiving majors.
Defensively, the team should be buoyed by the return of top free-agent defensive tackle DeWayne Hendrix, who has missed the last two games with a hamstring issue. The six-foot-four, 270-pound pass rusher had just one tackle in his first two contests with the Tabbies but had a breakout season in 2023 with Toronto, recording 23 tackles, six sacks, and one forced fumble.
Canadian defensive linemen David Menard and Deionte Knight will also draw into the lineup this week, the latter for the first time since being poached off the Argonauts practice squad. American defensive end Kobe Jones (hamstring) will go on the one-game injured list, while defensive tackles Trevon Mason and Reece Martin return to the practice squad.
As was to be expected following the firing of special team coordinator Paul Boudreau on Tuesday, many of the team’s changes are depth moves designed to beef up the special teams units. Struggling returner Lawrence Woods III (knee) will spend the week on the one-game injured list, as promising rookie Davon ‘Smoke’ Harris makes his professional debut after a prolific collegiate career at Louisiana Tech. Linebacker Carthell Flowers-Lloyd will also make his first appearance this year after leading the CFL with 31 special teams tackles as a rookie.
Other depth pieces entering the lineup this week include Global linebacker Penei Pavihi, Canadian cornerback Siriman Harrison Bagayogo, Canadian offensive lineman Evan Johnson, and American tight end Camren McDonald — who will get the paper start at receiver ahead of designated nationalized American Tim White. Canadian defensive back Patrick Burke Jr., American receiver Dezmon Patmon, and Global tight end Jevoni Robinson have been moved to the practice roster, while rookie Canadian offensive lineman Nathaniel Dumoulin-Duguay (ankle) has been placed on the six-game injured list.
Starting cornerback Richard Leonard (foot) and Canadian fullback James Tuck (hamstring) have both been listed as game-time decisions.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats (0-4) will host the B.C. Lions (3-1) on Sunday, July 7 at 7:00 p.m. EDT.
