The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will be getting a boost to their offence for their week four matchup against against the B.C. Lions.
The team announced Thursday that quarterback Matt Nichols will start Saturday’s game at Investors Group Field. He returned to practice earlier this week for the first time since suffering a knee injury during training camp.
Nichols was placed on Winnipeg’s six-game injured list after being hurt. It was estimated he would miss four to six weeks but was removed from the injured list on Tuesday.
“I feel awesome,” Nichols said after practice on Thursday afternoon. “Obviously a little frustrating the last couple weeks, but overall I feel great and I’m super excited to be out there.”
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The Bombers lost two of their first three regular-season games in Nichols’ absence. The 31-year-old QB said it was tough to watch.
“This is the first time that I’ve really been hurt and watched what I feel like is my team on the road. You kind of feel helpless, sitting at home, I kind of had a pit in my stomach like I was doing something wrong,” he said.
Now that he’s been given the go-ahead from team doctors, his mood has improved.
“I think my teammates haven’t seen me without a smile all week, so I’m just ready to get going and start playing football with the guys again,” Nichols said.
Running back Andrew Harris is looking forward to having his starting quarterback back under centre.
“Just having his voice back in there. You know we’re excited for him to recover as fast as he has, and we’re excited to see him get back in the game and make plays for us and help us win games.”
The Bombers host the Lions on Saturday night at Investors Group Field. It’s a game that Nichols was already looking ahead to when he suffered the knee injury in the pre-season.
“For some reason I had this vision of being out here for the B.C. home game,” Nichols said. “I didn’t even know what the injury was at that point, and for some reason that was what I set my mind to… when I was going to be back out there, and that’s the case this weekend.”
Kick off on Saturday is at 7:30 p.m.
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