Nichols to replace QB Willy Thursday

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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.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/07/2016 (3365 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

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterbacks Drew Willy (5) and Dominique Davis (6) watch new starting QB Matt Nichols (15) throw the ball during practice at Investors Group Field Sunday.
MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterbacks Drew Willy (5) and Dominique Davis (6) watch new starting QB Matt Nichols (15) throw the ball during practice at Investors Group Field Sunday.
MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Winnipeg Blue Bombers QB Matt Nichols (15) is patted on the head prior to start of the team's practice at Investors Group Field Sunday. The team has announced Nichols will be starting quarterback at the Bombers' Thursday game.
MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Winnipeg Blue Bombers QB Matt Nichols (15) is patted on the head prior to start of the team's practice at Investors Group Field Sunday. The team has announced Nichols will be starting quarterback at the Bombers' Thursday game.
Jeff Hamilton

Jeff Hamilton
Multimedia producer

Jeff Hamilton is a sports and investigative reporter. Jeff joined the Free Press newsroom in April 2015, and has been covering the local sports scene since graduating from Carleton University’s journalism program in 2012. Read more about Jeff.

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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

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