SURREY, B.C. — Travis Lulay isn’t giving up on the CFL season just yet.
The B.C. Lions’ quarterback says he will make a decision in the next couple of weeks on whether to have surgery on his right throwing shoulder which he re-injured in Friday night’s 7-5 win over the Ottawa Redblacks.
If surgery isn’t needed, Lulay believes he could play again this year.
"That’s a possibility," Lulay told reporters Tuesday at the Lions’ practise facility. "We just don’t know enough quite yet.
"As far as options go, that is one of the options, not to have the surgery and see how it responds."
If surgery is needed, that would finish Lulay for the year.
"If it were to look like surgery is the best thing to do, we’d decide exactly how to do it and more forward," he said.
An MRI Monday confirmed the CFL’s 2011 MVP had suffered a dislocated shoulder. The Lions placed Lulay on the six-game injured.
Lulay underwent off-season surgery on the same shoulder, which resulted in him starting the year on the six-game injured list. He finally returned to the lineup in Week 8 against Toronto and made his first start against Ottawa.
The shoulder was hurt again when Lulay ended up at the bottom of a pile while trying to recover a loose ball late in the fourth quarter of the win over Ottawa.
"I knew it went right away," Lulay said. "That’s the cruel nature of our sport.
"Right after the game it was a tough moment."
The MRI showed the extent of the damage.
"Due to the nature of the injury, the surgery which was performed on Travis’ shoulder last winter has essentially been undone," Dr. Bob McCormack said in a release.
Lulay wasn’t the only CFL quarterback injured last weekend.
Darian Durant of the Saskatchewan Roughriders is expected to miss the remainder of the season with a torn tendon in his right elbow. He was hurt in Sunday’s win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and requires surgery.
A national television audience saw Lulay being helped off the field. Immediately he began receiving a flood of best wishes on social media from players and fans across the CFL.
Lulay’s voice quivered with emotion when discussing what that meant to him.
"That was pretty cool to have the respect of your peers," he said. "That emotion has carried me over the top of the disappointments."
In parts of three games this year Lulay has completed 22 of 35 passes for 194 yards. He’s also rushed for 54 yards on six carries.
Kevin Glenn, the veteran quarterback B.C. acquired as an insurance policy before the season, will start when the Lions play the Blue Bombers on Saturday night at B.C. Place Stadium.
The Lions and Bombers are tied at the bottom of the West Division standings with 12 points each, making the game important for both teams’ playoff hopes.
Head coach Mike Benevides said the team has confidence in Glenn, who has won five games as the Lions’ starting quarterback.
"We understand the task at hand and we understand each other better," said Benevides. "We will find a way to get it done."
Injuries resulted in Glenn taking over the starting quarterback position with the Calgary Stampeders in 2012. He ended up taking the Stampeders to the Grey Cup game.
"I’ve been in this situation the past two or three years," Glenn said. "It doesn’t get different.
"I’ve always prepared as if I was going to play. I’ve always put myself in the position to where I am ready if I get that chance."
B.C. has struggled offensively this season. The Lions have failed to score an offensive touchdown in three games, including the last two.
Glenn has completed 161 of 256 passes for 2,151 yards, nine touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Running back Andrew Harris, who earlier in the year was battling for the rushing lead, has managed just 54 yards in the last three games.
Lulay, who turns 31 later this month, has a history of shoulder problems. The latest injury casts some doubt on his future.
The six-foot-two, 216-pound native of Salem, Ore., partially dislocated his right shoulder last September in a win over Montreal. He missed the final seven regular-season games but returned to play in the Lions’ West Division semifinal loss to Saskatchewan.
For the season he completed 224 of 347 passes for 2,841 yards, 19 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
In November, Lulay had surgery to tighten the ligaments in the shoulder. That started a long winter of rehabilitation that spilled into the regular season. For the first several months after the operation Lulay couldn’t even pick up his infant daughter or take a carton of milk out of the refrigerator.
Lulay’s shoulder problems date back to June 2007 when he suffered a partly torn labrum playing for the Berlin Thunder of NFL Europa. That resulted in surgery and rehab.
In October 2009 he hurt the shoulder in a game against Winnipeg. That resulted in Casey Printers taking over as B.C.’s starting quarterback.
In October 2012 Lulay took a hit on the shoulder in a game against Hamilton and missed the next two games.
Lulay, the father of two young children, was asked if he’s considered retirement.
"Not yet," he said. "I’m going to make the best decision for me, for my wife and family."