Quarterback Buck Pierce is expected to return to practice with the B.C. Lions this week, but Dave Dickenson's status with the CFL team remains in doubt.
Pierce injured his throwing arm late in the first half of Saturday's 28-8 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. With Dickenson forced to sit out the game with post-concussion syndrome, third-string quarterback Jarious Jackson came off the bench and threw two touchdown passes.
Pierce is responding to treatment and should practise Tuesday, said Wally Buono, the Lions coach and general manager.
``Buck is doing well,'' Buono said Monday. ``He's getting his therapy.
``The big thing right now is that he's getting his range of motion back and his strength back. He feels right now his hand is strong.''
Pierce hurt himself when he smashed his elbow into an opponent's helmet, causing a numbing sensation in his hand. Buono said it was like banging your funny bone, only 100 times worse.
Does that mean Pierce will start Friday, when the Lions (10-4) host the Calgary Stampeders (9-6) in a West Division showdown?
``I'm not saying he is or isn't,'' Buono said. ``I'm not sure.''
Dickenson's health remains a concern.
``We're going to do some testing on Dave,'' said Buono. ``We'll give the information to our doctors and they will analyze it.
``We're going to allow the doctors to give us their understanding of what is going on.''
Dickenson, who suffered the concussion in a Sept. 16 win over Montreal, politely refused interviews Monday, saying he didn't have any new information on his health.
With Jackson their only healthy quarterback, the Lions have signed Todd Mortensen, who attended a three-day mini-camp in September for NFL cuts. The six-foot-four, 225-pound Mortensen played college football for Brigham Young and San Diego State.
``The good thing about it is we gave him a playbook to start digesting which he has been doing,'' said Buono.
Jackson is listed third on the Lions depth chart but looked good against the Tiger-Cats, completing 12 of 21 passes for 180 yards and no interceptions. He appeared much more comfortable than earlier in the year.
``Sometimes it's just a matter of relaxing and doing what you're asked to do,'' said Buono. ``He didn't give up on himself or his work ethic. He didn't give up on his preparation. He stepped in and knew exactly what was going on.''
B.C. plays back-to-back games against the Stampeders. If the Lions win either game, it pretty much eliminates Calgary's hopes of finishing first in the West.
Buono wants to watch Pierce in practice this week, and learn more about Dickenson's health, before deciding on a starter for Friday.
``If I had to go today it would be Buck, only because of what we know,'' Buono said. ``Dave hasn't been given any clearance.''
