It has been photographed, filmed and closely studied from afar via binoculars.
Yes, Matt Nichols’ throwing hand has been getting so much attention this week it’s shocking a parody Twitter account hasn’t popped up over the last few days chronicling the limb’s every moment.
But here’s the good news after a couple of days of fingernail gnashing from Bomber Nation: the Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback has all but declared himself good to go this Saturday against the B.C. Lions after injuring his hand in last Friday’s loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
“It’s going good. I feel like I’m throwing the ball well out here,” said Nichols after practice Wednesday. “I felt great these couple of days throwing the football around and I fully expect to be playing.”
Nichols played just the first half against the Ticats Friday, completing 14 of 18 passes for 158 yards with one touchdown and one interception, but did not finish after banging his throwing hand a couple of times and injuring his ring finger. He has worn a modified glove at practice the last two days – it leaves his thumb, index and middle fingers exposed, but covers his ring finger and pinky – and has still been able to zip passes.
He did not speak to the media after practice on Tuesday, but faced a swarm of reporters on Wednesday – while keeping his hand hidden in a hand warmer during his interview.
“It’s one of those things where I didn’t feel like I could do my job I wouldn’t be out here doing it. I wouldn’t be taking reps away from other guys,” said Nichols. “I feel good and I feel like I’ve had a couple good days of practice.”
Nichols, who has started 27 consecutive games for the Bombers dating back to late July a year ago, does not normally wear a glove on his throwing hand, insisting that the stickiness affects some of his throws.
He didn’t test out the glove – or his throwing hand – until practice on Tuesday, but has clearly become more comfortable with everything with each rep.
“I’m not a huge fan of it… there are times where the glove kind of sticks to (the ball),” said Nichols. “But these last couple days out here at practice I’ve thrown a glove on that has a couple fingers cut off of it because there’s just certain touch throws that when I do practice with one in the offseason… it’s just not something I’m extremely comfortable with doing going into a game. I’ve always felt that I’ve thrown well enough in the cold without a glove and so I’d like to continue to do that. This will be my version of it.”
Nichols has posted career numbers through 14 games this season, throwing for 4,002 yards and 27 touchdowns against just eight interceptions while averaging 7.7 yards per carry.
The Bombers would turn to Dom Davis if Nichols couldn’t go against the Lions, although that seems moot now after two solid days of practice work. Nichols did say the decision was made for him to exit the Ticats game at halftime when it was clear he couldn’t throw the way he wanted.
“It was tough,” said Nichols. “Initially with the injury I just felt like I wasn’t able to completely throw the ball the way I wanted to. At that point if you feel like you’re not going to be able to go out there and do your job fully and help your team win… we have confidence in the next guy up and I think Dom came in and did a good job for us.
“It’s just as at team we didn’t play well enough. I don’t think one person made a difference in that game. We need to play better overall as a team.”
BOMBER REPORT – October 11, 2017
THE ‘OTHER’ HURTS
RB/SB Timothy Flanders, along with DE Trent Corney and FB Mike Miller didn’t finish the loss to Hamilton on Friday. Miller was back at practice on Wednesday and while Flanders and Corney were in attendance, they were only spectators.
“Day to day,” said Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea. “We’ll give them right until Day 3 (Thursday) mid-afternoon, whenever we have to figure the roster out. We’ll leave it right down to the wire with those guys.”
HOF IN THE HOUSE
Terrence Edwards, a member of the 2017 Winnipeg Football Club Hall of Fame class, attended practice on Wednesday.
Veteran receiver Clarence Denmark wore Edwards’ No. 82 at practice as a tribute.
“I’m just showing love to one of the great receivers to play here,” said Denmark. “I was very impressed with how well he knew the game. That’s what first struck me. But then when we got on the field he always made his plays. He was just a great pro.”
Edwards influenced a young receiver like Denmark when he first broke into the CFL, much the same way he was guided by Milt Stegall when he arrived on the scene in Winnipeg.
And now Denmark is one of the veteran voices helping out the fresh receiver faces.
“It’s always about doing the little things right,” said Denmark. “He was always a person who was here early, studied hard and then came out and made the plays. We could count on him, we could trust him and he was fun to play with.
“I’ve never thought that I would get to this point, but I am. It just feels good to know the players look up to you and you can teach them something and be able to give a little bit back.”
To read more about Edwards and the rest of the Bombers’ 2017 HOF class:
TRADE DEADLINE QUIET: Just FYI, the CFL’s trade deadline came and went Wednesday afternoon without a single transaction across the board.
