By: Tyler Rabb – OttawaREDBLACKS.COM Staff
Photo: Sean Kilpatrick – CFL
Reilly Roughed Up
Week 1 was not kind to the Eskimos. Not only did they fall to the Argonauts 26-11 in Fort McMurray, AB, Edmonton also lost their starting quarterback.
QB Mike Reilly suffered severe tears to ligaments in his left knee against the Argos and was forced to leave the game. News of Reilly’s injury only worsened, as the Eskimos confirmed the pivot will be out of the lineup for up to 12 weeks.
Nichols and Dimes
With the injury to Reilly, the Eskimos have decided to start quarterback Matt Nichols against the REDBLACKS in Week 3.
The six year CFL veteran has been a career backup, but Edmonton head coach Chris Jones has faith that Nichols can take charge of the Eskimos’ offence.
“Certainly, he’s a consummate professional,” said Jones. “He’s a ‘first guy to get here, last guy to leave’ type guy. And the kids (teammates) really believe in him.”
He’ll have to hold down the fort for a while, as Reilly’s knee injury will keep him on the sidelines for at least the first half of the CFL season. Rookie quarterbacks Jordan Lynch and Franklin James may see some action if Nichols can’t jump start the Eskimos offence.
Adarius The Great
Eskimos slotback Adarius Bowman had outstanding 2014 season. He led the CFL with 1,456 receiving yards, while catching 112 passes and adding six touchdowns.
Bowman’s receiving yardage totals haven’t been seen in the league since Jamel Richardson matched that output in 2011, teaming up with CFL legend Anthony Calvillo for the Alouettes.
The 29-year old Bowman will have step up even more this season, as the loss of his starting QB leaves a hole in the Eskimos on-field leadership. If the CFL’s fourth best player can quickly find chemistry with the newly appointed Matt Nichols, the Eskimos may find success this season.
City of Champions
The last time an Ottawa CFL team won a game in Edmonton was more than 20 years ago. In 1983, the Rough Riders, led by QB J.C. Watts, defeated Warren Moon‘s Eskimos 17-14.
Henry Burris and the 2015 edition of the Ottawa REDBLACKS will be looking to break that streak and take a 3-0 record back to TD Place to face Edmonton in the final matchup of their two-game home-and-home series on Friday, July 17.
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2015 Arrivals
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2015 Departures
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Thursday Night Football
The REDBLACKS travel west to Edmonton to take on the Eskimos at 9 p.m. tonight, Thursday, July 9. You can watch the game on TSN 1/3/4/5 and RDS2 or listen to all the action on TSN 1200 and 104,7 FM Outaouais.
