Willy to start Thursday against B.C. Lions

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/07/2015 (3753 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Drew Willy says he’s healthy and ready to start Thursday night at Investors Group Field against the B.C. Lions.

“I feel good. I went through a process this morning getting ready. I’ve put a lot of work into getting ready. And yeah, I’m going to be out there. I feel good and will be able to protect myself and be ready to go,” Willy told reporters this afternoon following the Bombers walk-through at IGF.

Willy, who’s not known as a mobile quarterback at the best of times, says there are no lingering effects from a knee injury sustained last Saturday in a 32-3 loss to the Edmonton Eskimos that will further hinder his mobility Thursday night.

“I don’t think so. I went through a process this morning — doing different drops and reads and things like that and I think I will be the same.”

The CFL announced this afternoon that they have fined Edmonton Eskimos defensive lineman Eddie Steele for a “low hit” on the play in which Willy was injured.

Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said earlier in the week that he might wait until gameday to declare his starting QB, but the team surprised everyone by announcing this morning that Willy would be their starter this week.

O’Shea said this afternoon that he’d already seen enough out of Willy to comfortably make the call. “If he was going to be limited, we really wouldn’t want him playing,” said O’Shea. “I’m very confident he’s going to be able to execute whatever we need him to execute.”

Willy will have some wrinkles to contend with this week against the Lions. The Bombers will have two new starters on their offensive line — right tackle Jace Daniels returns to the starting lineup in place of an injured Devin Tyler, while Patrick Neufeld takes over at left guard from Chris Greaves — and slotback Nick Moore, the team’s leading receiver this season, is out this week with an undisclosed injury.

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.

Justin Veltung — who was the team’s returner earlier in the season — will take over this week for Moore.

O’Shea said Moore’s injury is not serious, describing his condition as day to day.

The 2-3 Bombers come into this week having lost their last two games in a row and three out of their last four, while the Lions are 2-2 after a loss to the Toronto Argonauts last weekend.

email: paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @PaulWiecek