A key defensive weapon for the B.C. Lions has had his season cut short by a knee injury.

Head coach and co-general manager Rick Campbell confirmed Wednesday that linebacker Josh Woods is done for the year. The 26-year-old from Ontario, Calif., went down in the first half of B.C.害羞草研究所檚 victory over the Edmonton Elks on Thursday and had to be carted off the field.

害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 going to require knee surgery and he害羞草研究所檒l be out for the year,害羞草研究所� Campbell said at the team害羞草研究所檚 training facility in Surrey, B.C. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檒l fully support him. And he害羞草研究所檚 going to be around here rehabbing and doing his thing, contributing in any way that he can. We will absolutely miss him.害羞草研究所�

Woods posted on social media, saying there was no need for 害羞草研究所渁ny pity or sympathy.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 at peace and motivated,害羞草研究所� he wrote. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e been through it before and I know I can do it again.害羞草研究所�

The six-foot-two, 234-pound athlete had a strong start to the campaign, registering 22 total tackles in B.C.害羞草研究所檚 first three games of the season. He sits among the top-10 CFL players in that category so far this year.

The Lions won害羞草研究所檛 be able to completely fill Woods害羞草研究所� hole in the lineup, Campbell said, but his teammates will come together to keep the defence strong.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e very lucky in the fact we have a lot of veteran linebackers here and guys that have played a lot of football,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淎ll those guys are guys that have been around the block and know how to play, so they害羞草研究所檙e going to carry the load for us.害羞草研究所�

One player who will miss having Woods on the field is B.C. linebacker Ben Hladik. The duo both started with the Lions in 2021 and have steadily worked their way up the depth chart over the past three seasons.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e been waiting to play together for three years now,害羞草研究所� Hladik said. 害羞草研究所淲e kind of came together in our first year and now we got the opportunity. But he害羞草研究所檒l be back next year. We害羞草研究所檒l get another chance to do it, hopefully.害羞草研究所�

Hladik leads the Lions with 27 total tackles, including three for a loss. He also had a big interception in B.C.害羞草研究所檚 26-17 win over the Calgary Stampeders on June 15.

The 25-year-old Canadian credits Woods with helping him find another level to his game.

害羞草研究所淗e sets the tone out there,害羞草研究所� said the six-foot-four, 235-pound Hladik. 害羞草研究所淚 see him doing it and I just want to do it too. I just want to be more physical when I see him being physical out there.害羞草研究所�

Defence has been an important part of the Lions害羞草研究所� early season success.

B.C. has given up an average of 343 offensive yards per game, the second fewest in the CFL behind the undefeated Montreal Alouettes (332).

The defensive corps has had a knack for making plays all year, said Lions quarterback Vernon Adams Jr.

害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檙e all together, they害羞草研究所檙e communicating on the field. They害羞草研究所檙e aligned right and doing what they need to do,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檙e just doing what they害羞草研究所檙e supposed to do, getting us the ball back and giving us the opportunity to go down and score with the ball. So shout-out to the defence.害羞草研究所�

The Lions will look to stretch a three-game win streak on Sunday when they visit the struggling Tiger-Cats (0-4) in Hamilton.

The Ticats are a team with a lot of veteran players on their secondary who know how to confuse quarterbacks, Adams said.

害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 a good team, man,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淲hatever their record is, it doesn害羞草研究所檛 matter. They害羞草研究所檝e been in every game they害羞草研究所檝e played.害羞草研究所�

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