2023 BC Lions season explained

Team:BC Lions
Year:2023
Record:12–6
Division Place:2nd, West
President:Duane Vienneau
General Manager:Rick Campbell
Neil McEvoy
Coach:Rick Campbell
Stadium:BC Place Stadium
Playoffs:Lost West Final
Mop:Vernon Adams
Modp:Mathieu Betts
Moc:Mathieu Betts
Mool:Jarell Broxton
Most:Sean Whyte
Mor:Ryder Varga
Uniform:CFL BCL Jersey 2023.png

The 2023 BC Lions season was the 65th season for the team in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and their 69th overall. The Lions qualified for the playoffs for the second straight season following their week 14 win over the Edmonton Elks.[1] After defeating the Calgary Stampeders in the West Semi-Final, the Lions lost to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the West Final.

The 2023 CFL season was the third season with Rick Campbell as the team's head coach and the second season with Campbell and Neil McEvoy as co-general managers.[2] [3]

Offseason

CFL Global Draft

The 2023 CFL Global Draft took place on May 2, 2023.[4] The Lions had the seventh selection in each round.[5]

RoundPickPlayerPositionClub/SchoolNationality
1 7 Jamaica
2 16 France

CFL National Draft

The 2023 CFL Draft took place on May 2, 2023.[6] The Lions had seven selections in the eight-round draft after trading away their first-round pick for Vernon Adams and their third-round pick for Terry Williams, but re-acquired a first-round pick from the Toronto Argonauts after trading Jordan Williams.[7] [8] [9]

Aside from their traded picks, the Lions had the seventh selection in each of the eight rounds of the draft after losing the West Final and finishing second in the 2022 league standings.[10]

RoundPickPlayerPositionSchoolHometown
1 9 Montreal, QC
2 14 Montreal, QC
4 34 Toronto, ON
5 43 Winnipeg, MB
6 52 St. Mary's Halifax, NS
7 61 Waterloo, ON
8 70 High River, AB

Preseason

Schedule

WeekGameDateKickoffOpponentResultsTVVenueAttendanceSummary
ScoreRecord
ABye
B1Sat, May 274:00 p.m. PDTat Saskatchewan RoughridersL 27–300–1NoneMosaic Stadium22,908Recap
C2Thu, June 17:30 p.m. PDTvs. Calgary StampedersW 25–221–1NoneBC PlaceRecap
[11] [12]

Games played with fog uniforms.[13]

Regular season

Schedule

WeekGameDateKickoffOpponentResultsTVVenueAttendanceSummary
ScoreRecord
11Thu, June 86:00 p.m. PDTat Calgary StampedersW 25–151–0TSN/CBSSNMcMahon Stadium17,942Recap
22Sat, June 174:00 p.m. PDTvs. Edmonton ElksW 22–02–0TSN/CBSSNBC Place33,103Recap
33Thu, June 225:30 p.m. PDTat Winnipeg Blue BombersW 30–63–0TSNIG Field25,662Recap
44Mon, July 34:00 p.m. PDTat Toronto ArgonautsL 24–453–1TSN/RDS/CBSSNBMO Field12,473Recap
55Sun, July 94:00 p.m. PDTvs. Montreal AlouettesW 35–194–1TSN/RDS/CBSSNBC Place20,106Recap
6Bye
76Sat, July 224:00 p.m. PDTvs. Saskatchewan RoughridersW 19–95–1TSN/CBSSNBC Place23,902Recap
87Sat, July 294:00 p.m. PDTat Edmonton ElksW 27–06–1TSN/CBSSNCommonwealth Stadium24,613Recap
98Thu, Aug 35:30 p.m. PDTat Winnipeg Blue BombersL 14–506–2TSN/RDS/CBSSNIG Field30,874Recap
109Sat, Aug 124:00 p.m. PDTvs. Calgary StampedersW 37–97–2TSN/CBSSNBC Place20,524Recap
1110Sun, Aug 204:00 p.m. PDTat Saskatchewan RoughridersL 29–347–3TSN/CBSSNMosaic Stadium27,483Recap
1211Sat, Aug 264:00 p.m. PDTvs. Hamilton Tiger-CatsL 13–307–4TSNBC Place22,053Recap
1312Sat, Sept 24:00 p.m. PDTat Montreal AlouettesW 34–258–4TSN/RDSMolson Stadium17,112Recap
14Bye
1513Sat, Sept 164:00 p.m. PDTvs. Ottawa RedblacksW 41–379–4TSN/RDS2BC Place20,403Recap
1614Fri, Sept 226:30 p.m. PDTat Edmonton ElksW 37–2910–4TSNCommonwealth Stadium25,144Recap
1715Fri, Sept 297:30 p.m. PDTvs. Saskatchewan RoughridersW 33–2611–4TSNBC Place22,735Recap
1816Fri, Oct 67:00 p.m. PDTvs. Winnipeg Blue BombersL 26–34 11–5TSNBC Place23,512Recap
1917Fri, Oct 134:00 p.m. PDTat Hamilton Tiger-CatsW 33–3012–5TSNTim Hortons Field23,891Recap
2018Fri, Oct 207:00 p.m. PDTvs. Calgary StampedersL 16–4112–6TSNBC Place22,537Recap
21Bye
[11] [14] [15]

Games played with blackout uniforms.[13]

Games played with fog uniforms.[13]

Game summaries

Week 20: vs. Calgary Stampeders

Post-season

Schedule

GameDateKickoffOpponentResultsTVVenueAttendanceSummary
ScoreRecord
West Semi-FinalSat, Nov 43:30 p.m. PDTvs. Calgary StampedersW 41–301–0TSN/RDSBC Place30,149Recap
West FinalSat, Nov 113:30 p.m. PSTat Winnipeg Blue BombersL 13–241–1TSN/RDSIG Field32,343Recap
[11]

Games played with blackout uniforms.[13]

Games played with fog uniforms.[13]

Game summaries

West Final: at (W1) Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Team

Roster

Quarterbacks

Receivers

Running backs

Fullbacks

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

  • P
  • LS
  • K
1-Game Injured
  • RB
  • LB
  • LB
  • DL
  • DL

6-Game Injured

  • DL
  • DB
  • OL
  • WR
  • OL
Practice roster
  • QB
  • WR
  • RB
  • OL
  • LB
  • WR
  • WR
  • RB
Italics indicate American player • Bold indicates Global player • 46 Roster, 10 Injured, 8 Practice roster
Roster updated 2023-11-11 • Depth chartTransactionsMore CFL rosters

Coaching staff

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lions clinch post-season spot with road win over Elks . . September 9, 2023.
  2. Web site: Lions officially name Rick Campbell head coach . . December 2, 2019.
  3. Web site: B.C. Lions coach Rick Campbell, football ops director Neil McEvoy to share GM role . . December 7, 2020.
  4. News: Expanded CFL Combine presented by New Era heading to Edmonton in '23 . . November 10, 2022.
  5. News: 2023 Global draft tracker . . May 10, 2023.
  6. Web site: Chase Brown headlines Scouting Bureau's fall edition . . September 8, 2022.
  7. News: Argos acquire Jordan Williams in trade with Lions . . February 9, 2023.
  8. News: Lions trade for Vernon Adams Jr. . . August 31, 2022.
  9. News: Redblacks acquire draft picks from Lions for WR/KR Terry Williams . . September 4, 2022.
  10. Web site: 2022 CFL standings . . November 11, 2022.
  11. Web site: 2023 CFL Schedule . . December 15, 2022.
  12. Web site: 2023 CFL on TSN Broadcast Schedule . . May 10, 2023.
  13. BakesTakes84 . 1661101152191254528 .
    1. BCLions will wear Fog uniforms in both pre-season contests. Which means Blackout look to be unveiled for regular season home opener in week two June 17.
    . May 24, 2023.
  14. Web site: Horaire de diffusion – LCF . . May 24, 2023 . French.
  15. Web site: 2023 U.S. and International broadcast schedule . . June 7, 2023.