VANCOUVER – B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke is expected to start in Saturday’s CFL game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at B.C. Place Stadium.

The league’s Most Outstanding Player in 2025 sustained a shoulder injury in his non-throwing arm in the first quarter of a July 17 game against the Edmonton Elks.

Rourke missed the rest of that game and the next two for the Lions (2-5), but he was listed as a starter for the game against the Ticats.

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B.C. went 1-2 after Rourke’s exit, but beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 35-19 last week.

Rookie starter Kaidon Salter completed seven of 15 pass attempts for 96 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for 160 yards — a franchise record for a quarterback — in the win over Winnipeg.

Rourke has completed 71.3 per cent of his throws (107-for-150) for 1,403 yards and five touchdowns. The 28-year-old, who was born in Victoria and grew up in Oakville, Ont., has been intercepted four times in his five games this season.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 7, 2026.