Nichols to replace QB Willy Thursday
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/07/2016 (3656 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Matt Nichols will start at quarterback when the Blue Bombers (1-4) head to Commonwealth Stadium Thursday for their Week 6 matchup against the Edmonton Eskimos (2-2), the team announced Sunday.
Nichols replaces Drew Willy after an underwhelming performance through the first five weeks of the season; most recently, a 33-18 loss to the Calgary Stampeders Thursday at Investors Group Field.
Willy was pulled midway through the fourth quarter of that game after throwing an interception for a touchdown. Nichols, who was acquired by Winnipeg in a trade with Edmonton last season and signed a one-year extension in January, replaced Willy and promptly led the Bombers to a touchdown on his first drive.
Just how long Nichols will remain the starter will likely be determined by whether he can win. It’s familiar territory for the 29-year-old from Redding, Calif. Nichols started seven games for the Bombers in 2015 after Willy went down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 7, finishing with a 2-5 record.
Earlier that year, with the Eskimos, Nichols went 5-2 after replacing starter Mike Reilly, who suffered a knee injury in the team’s season-opener. He’d eventually lose the starting job to James Franklin. In 19 career starts in the CFL, Nichols has a record of 7-12.
jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.catwitter: @jeffkhamilton
Jeff Hamilton
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Jeff Hamilton
Multimedia producer
Jeff Hamilton joined the Free Press newsroom in 2015, reporting on the sports and investigative beats until he left the Free Press in July 2026.
Every piece of reporting Jeff produced was reviewed by an editing team before it was posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
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History
Updated on Sunday, July 24, 2016 2:03 PM CDT: Replaces photo
Updated on Sunday, July 24, 2016 4:56 PM CDT: Replaces photo, added video