Edmonton Eskimos quarterback Mike Reilly and receiver Derel Walker have been named Shaw CFL Top Performers of the Week.
Both players had big roles in the Eskimos first win of the season last week over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in a 33-30 victory in the longest continuous game in CFL history.
Reilly completed 32 of 46 passes for 408 yards and one touchdown pass, including a 101 yard strike to Walker who finished with eight catches for 176 yards. Walkers says he has great chemistry with Reilly.
“He’s one of them guys that he throws it my way I’m going to do my best to catch the ball and Mike Reilly is going to put me in the best position to catch the ball,” Walker said. “We have great chemistry, we’ve been doing this since 2015 so it’s just one of those things were we just click. We kinda get the grasp on what each other’s thinking on certain routes and certain plays depending on the coverage.”
Listen Below: Mike Reilly connects with Derel Walker for a 101 yard bomb in the season-opener against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
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Reilly added 43 rushing yards and scored two touchdowns.
Head coach Jason Maas says it’s not easy to develop chemistry as a quarterback with a receiver.
“The first thing is reading body language, you have a sixth sense with certain receivers you can tell by the way they run their routes, where they’re breaking and how they’re breaking,” Maas said. “You just have a feel for ’em and it’s hard to explain, some guys you have it with and some guys you don’t. Mike has it with but obviously with Derel he has it extremely well.”
Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive end Charleston Hughes is the other Top Performer of the Week after recording three sacks last week in a win over the Toronto Argonauts.
Receivers Vidal Hazelton and Bryant Mitchell didn’t practice today, both are likely doubtful for Friday. Defensive backs Aaron Grymes and Forrest Hightower both practiced today and should be ready to play.
The Eskimos will host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Friday night in their home-opener on The Brick Field at Commonwealth Stadium. Game-time is at 8 p.m., live coverage on 630 CHED will begin following coverage of the NHL Entry Draft from Dallas.