The Canadian Press
Travis Lulay was searching for the right words but his eyes answered all the questions.
The BC Lions quarterback was on the verge of tears as he tried to make sense of a knee injury that has ended his season and leaves his career in doubt.
“I’m shocked more than anything,” said Lulay.
“It’s hard to understand. It’s not for me to understand. I trust there is a plan. It will make more sense to me someday down the road.”
Wally Buono, the Lions veteran head coach and general manager, was subdued and reflective when talking about Lulay. He offered an explanation for the inexplicable.
“Professional sports is cruel,” said Buono. “No justice.
“You say life isn’t fair. It’s not fair. Here is a guy that’s gone through so much, all of a sudden is back on top, and it’s taken away from him again.”
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Jennings consoles Lulay before he hit the field last week against the Alouettes (Jimmy Jeong/CFL.ca)
In a perfect world quarterback Jonathon Jennings would have been able to celebrate after leading the Lions to a convincing 41-18 victory over the Montreal Alouettes Friday night with a performance that showed he belongs among the CFL’s elite quarterbacks. Instead he watched sadly as Lulay hobbled around on crutches.
“I’m at a loss for words,” said Jennings. “The sad part about this game is injuries like that, especially how hard he’s been working and how well he’s been playing.
“It’s tough to see as a friend and it’s tough to see as a teammate.”
Lulay tore up his knee on just the second play from scrimmage against Montreal. It was his first game since taking over as the starting quarterback after Jennings played poorly in three consecutive Lions’ losses.
Jennings came off the bench and showed the poise and touch that had made him one of the most exciting quarterbacks in the league. It just wasn’t completing 22 of 29 passes for 295 yards and two touchdowns. It wasn’t just not throwing an interception. Jennings’ confidence looked restored. He moved around in the pocket with stealth, stepping out of harm’s way to deliver strikes down the field. He showed the patience to wait for his receivers to get open and also knew when to pull down the ball and run.
“I just went out there and played, made some plays,” said Jennings. “That was huge. I still missed a couple of throws. We are going to get that taken care of.
“I just went out there and played football. That’s what I’ve done last year. I just played off instinct. That’s what I have to do, use my legs a little bit, scramble around and let my receivers make plays for me.”
Buono said Jennings shut out all the noise around him and concentrated on doing what he needed.
“He was prepared and he was ready,” said Buono. “I can’t image the last month or so has been pleasant for him. He didn’t let that phase him. I told him this is either going to make you a better quarterback or it’s going to eventually hurt you.”
In three games since returning from a shoulder injury Jennings often looked tentative. He tried to force plays, resulting in him throwing seven interceptions and just two touchdowns.
Against a Montreal defence that was better than the score showed, he distributed the ball to seven different receivers. Emmanuel Arceneaux and Bryan Burnham each had six catches for over 100 yards.
The Lions also used a running attack and play action to keep the Als off balance.
“I’ve been trying to tell myself to get back to the basics, keep it simple and just play,” said Jennings, 25, who is just in his second year as a starter. “Do what’s got me here. I think that’s what helped me.
“If I’m trying to do too much and thinking too much, my game changes a bit. I’ve just got to go out there and play.”
Jennings and the Lions will face the red-hot Stampeders this week (The Canadian Press)
Buono was impressed with how Jennings rose to the challenge at a time when questions were swirling around him.
“His decision making was very definite, very sudden,” said Buono. “His throws were very accurate.
“You have to give him credit. When he came in he was ready. I don’t think he expected this to occur.”
Burnham never doubted Jennings would bounce back.
“He got banged up in the beginning of the season,” said the sure-handed receiver. “Now he’s finally coming back.
“He’s healthy and he’s seeing the field and he’s confident. Jonathon Jennings is a great quarterback. He’s had a few bad games and people starting saying he wasn’t good. It’s crazy how people forget how good a player he us. I’m excited to be back out there with him.”
Jennings will face a tougher test Saturday when the Lions (6-5-0) travel to Calgary to play a Stampeder team (9-1-1) that has won seven straight games and is first in the West. The Calgary defence has allowed a league-low 209 points and is second in the CFL with 29 sacks.
Lulay suffered his injury on an innocent looking play. Flushed from the pocket, he headed towards the sidelines then cut up field. That’s when “I felt my knee shift.”
The 33-year-old former league and Grey Cup MOP has faced advisory before in his career, twice recovering from shoulder injuries.
“Things happen,” said Lulay. “I’ve dealt with stuff like this before. It’s personally disappointing.”
Buono said even on the sidelines Lulay can still play an important role with the Lions.
“If he can’t play four us he can help us win still,” he said. “I still want him to understand that we want him to be part of our team.
“He is a coach. He can be a life coach for Jonathon. He can contribute. That is going to help us to win.”
