Veteran receiver Eugene Lewis aims to tie Terry Evanshen's record for consecutive games with a touchdown reception as the 2025 CFL season approaches. Lewis's performance in Edmonton's first two games will be crucial in his pursuit of this historical achievement.
Eugene Lewis is poised for a pivotal 2025 CFL season, with his performance in the first two games holding significant historical weight. The veteran receiver aims to tie Hall of Famer Terry Evanshen 's record for consecutive games with a touchdown reception (10). Lewis concluded the 2024 season on a dominant note, recording touchdowns in Edmonton's final eight matches, breaking the club record of seven and equaling the franchise mark for consecutive games with any type of touchdown.
'It's definitely important, but I don't sit there and think about (records) all the time,' Lewis stated. 'When records do come my way, I understand how important they are and the urgency of it all because it's hard to break records and it's hard to get into those situations. When you have the opportunity to make real, live history that can keep going on generation after generation, I think that's spectacular.' In the previous season, Lewis showcased his exceptional talent, amassing 74 catches for 1,070 yards and a league-leading 10 touchdowns across all 18 regular-season games. Despite dealing with a knee injury that sidelined him for six games in 2023, he still managed 48 receptions for 844 yards and three touchdowns in 12 contests. 'I knew coming into 2024 I was completely healthy and that, 'Listen, if y'all just give me a chance...,'' Lewis said. 'I always knew God gave me the ability to do this but sometimes it's about having people that trust you and give you the leeway to do it.'This stellar performance propelled Lewis to achieve several milestones: he surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the third time in his seven CFL seasons and earned his third league all-star designation, significantly enhancing his market value as he enters CFL free agency next month. At 31 years old, Lewis was the league's highest-paid receiver last season, reportedly earning $320,000. Notably, in a league where contracts are frequently restructured, Lewis successfully saw his two-year deal with Edmonton through to completion. 'When you have a receiver getting money like a quarterback, many people don't agree with it,' Lewis acknowledged. 'In my mind, I always told myself when I got this contract, I didn't want to take a pay cut and I shouldn't have to if I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing.' 'I love Edmonton, I love the fans, I love the people there,' he added. 'But we have all new coaches, all new people upstairs and so it's also about do they want me back, am I somebody they want? When you go through that as a vet, you start understanding and seeing, yeah, it's a business but it's like I just want to know how do you feel about me because when I give you my all, you're going to get my all. That's all I know.' Edmonton's recent coaching changes include hiring former Calgary assistant Mark Kilam as head coach last month, and GM Ed Hervey's return to the organization in November after Chris Morris was appointed president/CEO. While Hervey stated he hasn't discussed an extension with Lewis's representative, he clarified that if Lewis stays with Edmonton, it will be at a lower salary. 'I'm saying the strategy I prefer to take in this instance is to allow the market to show what's true value,' Hervey told reporters during a CFL Zoom call. 'If someone's willing to pay him 300 (thousand dollars), great. I can tell you unequivocally I'm not paying 300. You can quote it and put it any which way you want. We will not be doing that.” Lewis joined Edmonton in free agency following the 2022 season, where he was the East Division's outstanding player with 91 catches for 1,303 yards (both career highs) and 10 touchdowns with Montreal. 'Listen, where I'm at now I'm in my prime ... the game has slowed down for me,' he said. 'I've still got so much to give.' Lewis developed a strong rapport with quarterbacks Tre Ford and McLeod Bethel-Thompson last year. Ford will be Edmonton's starter following a contract extension, while Bethel-Thompson was traded to Montreal. 'I definitely have to give a lot of credit to MBT and Tre,' Lewis said. 'That's why football is the ultimate team sport. You've got to trust people will do their job and they have to trust that you'll do yours. That's how it's supposed to be.' Lewis confided that one reason he signed with Edmonton was the challenge of achieving 1,000-yard seasons with both East and West Division teams. 'There were people saying it was harder to do in the West because you've got to go against these teams,' he said. 'I'm like, 'Listen, it doesn't really matter to me.
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