Veteran receiver Keon Hatcher will make his return to the B.C. Lions’ starting lineup when the team visits the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Thursday night.
The 29-year-old native of Tulsa, Okla. suffered a torn Achilles during last year’s West Final and missed B.C.’s first seven games of the 2024 regular season. He made a long-term commitment to the Lions this past off-season despite the injury, signing a three-year contract extension in Vancouver.
The six-foot-one, 212-pound target made 78 receptions for 1,266 yards and six touchdowns over 14 regular season games in 2023 and was named a CFL all-star. In total, Hatcher has made 165 catches for 2,483 yards and 13 touchdowns over 42 career games with the Lions.
Veteran offensive lineman Michael Couture has returned from injury to start at centre, pushing Tyler Packer to left guard. B.C. has also shaken up its secondary as Cristophe Beaulieu, a third-round pick in the 2024 CFL Draft out of Laval Université, will make his first career start at safety with Adrian Greene moving to field-side halfback.
David Knevel and Nathan Cherry have returned from the six-game injured list and will dress in depth roles in the trenches, while defensive back Ronald Kent Jr. has been moved to the practice roster after starting the club’s last four games.
The B.C. Lions (5-2) will visit the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-6) on Thursday, Aug. 1 with kickoff slated for 8:30 p.m. EDT.
