QB Jyles pitches in with Buck on bench

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/07/2010 (5794 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

HAMILTON — Trust in Steven Jyles’ abilities has been there since he signed in Winnipeg. On Friday night, he had a chance to show that the club’s faith was warranted.

Forced into the game when starting quarterback Buck Pierce left the game with a right knee injury in the second half, Jyles finally got his chance to show the Blue Bombers’ fanbase that he’s just not another guy named Randall or Bramlet. He performed admirably in Winnipeg’s 28-7 loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

"It felt great," he said. "Disappointed that we lost, we still lost, but it felt good to get out there, run around a bit and throw a few passes. Just have to build from that."

The former Saskatchewan backup knew when he signed in Winnipeg that he’d get a chance to play. Though promised an opportunity to compete for the Bombers starting job in training camp, once the club inked Pierce to a deal, the writing was pretty much on the wall. Jyles would be the No. 2 — ready to come in at a moment’s notice knowing Pierce’s injury history.

Jyles confessed he didn’t expect to be strapping on the helmet this early.

"That’s just pro football," he said. "The quarterback position, there’s only one guy out there at a time. You have to be ready at all times… you’re only one play away."

How long will Pierce be sidelined? The team did not give an detailed update on his knee, and Pierce was held out from doing interviews at game end. His status will be updated either Sunday or Monday.

What all this means right now is that Jyles could be the starter in next Saturday’s game against Edmonton. Head coach Paul laPolice, who’s been Jyles’ biggest supporter, felt his backup pivot did a great job.

"He managed the game well," LaPolice said. "We had a sack, and then it’s tough to execute on second and 24, or whatever it was. I thought he moved up down the field well, put us in a position to score, and gave us a touchdown."

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

Mike McIntyre | On Sports

Thursdays

Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter.

Sign up for Mike McIntyre | On Sports

Sign Up

I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

The 27-year-old wasn’t sure if his ability to move the pocket around sparked what little offence the Bombers had and with the way the Bombers receivers were dropping balls all night, bringing Jyles’ legs in as a weapon didn’t hurt.

"You want to believe that, but I don’t know. I just came in and was ready to play,’ he said. "I knew I was the next guy, I had to go in and do something. That’s all I tried to do — Just make a play.

For a moment it looked like Jyles would author a storybook ending Friday. He came into the game late in the third quarter, and led the sputtering Winnipeg offence to its only touchdown a minute into the fourth. Following a defensive stop, Winnipeg got the ball back with just under 12 minutes left in the game, and after running back Fred Reid scampered for 33-yards on the first play from scrimmage, Jyles was sacked by Hamilton linebacker Otis Floyd for a nine-yard loss.

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca