TORONTO — Before even suiting up, Nik Lewis has inched a little bit closer to the Canadian Football League’s all-time record for career receptions.

The CFL announced Wednesday that a stat correction moves Lewis to 1,021 catches in his career, only eight shy of tying the all-time leader in Geroy Simon (1,029) and nine short of passing him.

The correction was made after the missing reception — encountered in a game played on Sept. 6, 2004 — was spotted during a verification process that takes place when any major CFL record is about to be eclipsed.

“When a major CFL record is close to being eclipsed . . . we take time to ensure that the numbers are right so that each player past and present is served equally,” writes Head Statistician Steve Daniel. “All players in all times get the same care and attention for their lifetime statistics and our files are now deep with game-by-game data supporting their career totals.”

Last Saturday in Toronto, Nik Lewis passed Ben Cahoon for second place on the all-time receptions list.

The 14-year veteran could either tie or surpass Simon as early as Thursday night against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.