The Edmonton Eskimos had to wait two weeks before playing their first pre-season game last Sunday. Now, they will play their final pre-season game in Winnipeg on Thursday against the Blue Bombers at Investors Group Field.
The Eskimos dressed a veteran lineup against the Calgary Stampeders in a 36-35 loss. Several starters will sit out the game on Thursday.
James Franklin will get the start as quarterback. He went eight of 12 for 188 yards passing against the Stampeders and says his goal is to execute the offence at a high level.
“And also to continue progressions in the reads,” Franklin said.
“This is my second year in the offence and coach Maas and coach Carson (Walch) and coach Jordan (Maksymic) have done a good job of really coaching me through my progressions. So it’s not first progression, sometimes second progression, and now get out of the pocket or run. It’s now first progression, second progression, third progression, fourth progression and so on. It makes it a little bit easier actually. It’s crazy it works. Who would have thought going through your progressions makes it easier?”
Franklin is expected to play the first half with Danny O’Brien and Zach Kline seeing time in the second half.
Here are the projected Eskimos offensive and defensive starters for Thursday’s game:
Offence
Quarterback: James Franklin
Running back: Kendial Lawrence
Offensive Line: Tony Washington-Danny Groulx-Simeon Rottier-David Beard-Colin Kelly
Receivers: Bryan Mitchell-K.J. Maye-Natey Adjei-Duke Williams-Anthony Barrett
Defense
Defensive Line: Mike Moore-Ike Igbinosun-Euclid Cummings-Rykeen Yates
Linebackers: Adam Konar-Korey Jones-Kenny Ladler
Defensive Backs: Johnny Adams-Garry Peters-Neil King-Ahmad Dixon-Solomon Means
The Blue Bombers will dress a veteran lineup led by quarterback Matt Nichols, he and the rest of the Bombers starters are expected to play at least a half.
630 CHED will have live coverage of Thursday’s pre-seaon game starting with Countdown to Kickoff at 5 p.m. The opening kickoff from Investors Group Field in Winnipeg will be at 6:30 p.m.
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