QB’s status questionable

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This article was published 08/11/2017 (2921 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

On the first day of practice of what could be the final week of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ season, Matt Nichols threw a total of four passes. He watched the rest of the way, with backup Dan LeFevour taking over at quarterback, earning the majority of reps at Nichols’ spot with the No. 1 offence.

The fact Nichols was limited during Wednesday’s workout was expected. The Bombers are being careful with there offensive leader as he works to recover from a nagging calf injury. What can’t be determined, at least at this point, is whether Nichols will be ready to play Sunday afternoon when the Bombers put their season on the line against the Edmonton Eskimos in the West Division semifinal at Investors Group Field.

Not even head coach Mike O’Shea could guarantee Nichols would start against Edmonton.

“That’s a dangerous thing to do. We’ve lost guys in practice before. It happens all the time,” said O’Shea. “I think that’s a little premature.”

Already working through an injured throwing hand suffered last month, Nichols tweaked something in his left calf in a 36-27 loss to the B.C. Lions on Oct. 28. Reports surfaced during the game that Nichols had been dealing with the injury for some time, but it wasn’t made pubic until the quarterback was seen in major discomfort following a throw on the Bombers’ second series. He left the game and did not return.

Nichols didn’t practise last week and though he dressed in Calgary against the Stampeders in the regular-season finale, he didn’t take a snap.

O’Shea said Nichols doesn’t need to practise in order to play Sunday, echoing once again his steadfast commitment in waiting until the very last moment before making a final decision. Nichols, who was named the team’s most outstanding player nominee and has been paramount to the team’s success, is no exception.

“I believe he’ll be playing,” said O’Shea. “To not give that guy the opportunity too early is not the right thing to do.”

Nichols’ status has dominated discussion since the calf injury, and speculation over his health should only intensify as the week goes on.

He wasn’t made available to reporters on Wednesday. It’s a team rule that if a player doesn’t finish practice he doesn’t talk, and given the schedule of the remaining practices, it could be some time before the silence breaks.

None of the passes Nichols threw Wednesday travelled farther than 10 yards. It didn’t take long to see that he couldn’t run. At one point, he looked to be in some discomfort after throwing a pass to receiver Weston Dressler. Shortly after, he was replaced by LeFevour.

To what extent Nichols will participate in today’s practice isn’t known, as the Bombers have a closed workout. Quarterbacks are excused from speaking to the media Friday (they get one day off each week, per team rule), leaving just a leisurely walk-through Saturday before the game.

The Bombers are doing everything they can to ensure Nichols is in the lineup this week. He’s undergone a vigorous rehab regimen for the last two weeks and the goal is for him to play against the Eskimos, even if that means in a limited role. If Nichols can’t play, it will be LeFevour who will replace him. The other quarterback on the roster is Dominique Davis.

LeFevour led the Bombers to a 23-5 win over the Stampeders last week in his eighth career start since joining the CFL in 2012. His arm didn’t factor much in the victory, as he finished the game 13-for-17 pasing for 91 yards.

But Bombers offensive co-ordinator Paul LaPolice did credit LeFevour for his ball security and felt he executed the game plan, which changed when the Bombers took a 23-0 lead into the second half.

“They turned the ball over and we didn’t and that’s why we won the football game,” said LaPolice.

If LeFevour is called upon, he knows he’ll need to inspire a better performance from the offence, a unit that hasn’t scored a touchdown in three of the Bombers’ last four games.

“We can’t rely on defence scoring touchdowns every week and (kicker Justin) Medlock being perfect all the time,” said LeFevour, referencing a defence that put up to two touchdowns and seven turnovers against Calgary and Medlock, who went three-for-three on field-goal attempts. “We need to pick up some slack and do our part.”

LeFevour said Nichols has been a supportive teammate, working with him in meetings and helping him in any way he can. He also called Nichols’ limited work at practice Wednesday “progress” and said the Bombers’ most outstanding player nominee seemed determined to play Sunday.

“Everyone knows this is Matt’s team,” said LeFevour.

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @jeffkhamilton

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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