Heading back to practice Monday, Matt Nichols still seemed agitated with getting the hook against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The Edmonton Eskimos quarterback probably had a legitimate gripe considering the numbers he put up before making way for rookie James Franklin in the 32-3 win Saturday at Commonwealth Stadium.

But Nichols had to live with head coach Chris Jones’ decision and may have to again Friday against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, even though he is penciled in to start his fourth consecutive game in place of the injured Mike Reilly.

“It was what they decided to do in the game, even though I disagreed with it,” Nichols said following practice. “All in all, we got the win, we’re 3-1 sitting in first place and the main focus is, that week is behind us and we’re getting ready to play a tough Saskatchewan team this week.”

Nichols completed 17 of 25 passes for 196 yards before making way for Franklin in the third quarter against the Blue Bombers. Three of his incompletions were drops.

Yet with the Eskimos up 11-3 at the time, Jones decided to make the switch and go with his talented rookie.

“Matt Nichols has been the guy that has taken us the last three games and he’s going to be our starting quarterback. It’s pretty simple, we’re not going to change a lot when we’re winning football games,” Jones said on Monday. “It’s a situation where we just put in who we think is going to help us win the game. It’s the same thing defensively when I look out there and Marcus Howard needs a blow and Willie Jefferson gets into the football game.”

The decision to switch quarterbacks was made prior to a long punt return by Kendial Lawrence, setting the Eskimos up on the Blue Bombers three-yard line. Quarterback Jordan Lynch was brought in to punch the ball over the goal line. But on the next possession, Franklin was sent out to the surprise of Nichols and the rest of his teammates.

“Obviously, you want to be on the field and at times when you do some things wrong, you feel being pulled is the right decision,” Nichols said. “But for me, I just felt I was playing a pretty solid game in some tough conditions. My last seven quarters of football have been in a torrential downpour. But that being said, I’m moving on from last week and getting ready to play a football game this week.”

Despite the win, Nichols ran off the field at the end of the contest. He then, allegedly, left the stadium before having to be ordered back by Eskimos general manager Ed Hervey, who win or lose, rarely ducked the media as a player.

Nearly an hour after the game, Nichols spoke to the remaining members of the media who had the luxury of time and were able to wait him out.

Jones would not divulge the nature of the discussion he and Nichols had, saying it was between coach and player, but he did understand the reaction.

“Matt is a competitor and he wants to be in the football game,” Jones said. “And you would rather pull a guy back then have to push him.”

Franklin coming into the game and throwing three touchdown passes has now, seemingly, confused the quarterback situation. The Corinth, Texas product and University of Missouri graduate started the year on the Eskimos practice roster, but is now in the starter’s conversation.

“I was definitely thrown off by it, but that’s a decision coach Jones decided to make,” Nichols said. “We’re all going to stand behind the decisions he makes. Whatever he thinks is best for the football team at the time. But the most important thing is that we got the win and we’re moving on.”

Nichols does not anticipate the move will affect him heading forward, even though he may now be looking over his shoulder every time he throws an incompletion or interception.

As far as he is concerned, this is still his offence to run until Reilly returns.

“For me, I’m going to go in and play the way I’ve always played,” Nichols said. “I’m going to go through my reads and make good throws. I feel like each week I’ve felt more and more comfortable and felt like I’ve done some good things. I’m going to continue to do what I’ve been doing and not going to worry about any extra stuff.”

BOWMAN FEELS RESPONSIBLE

Adarius Bowman feels some responsibility for the benching of Matt Nichols on Saturday against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Had Bowman not dropped two passes thrown by Nichols in the contest, the Edmonton Eskimos may not have felt the need to make a quarterback change.

Even though the move worked out and Bowman caught two of the three touchdown passes thrown by James Franklin.

“There were a couple of things I could have done a lot better to help that situation,” Bowman said. “I have to show up every day, be ready to catch the ball and be a lot more consistent. We all were caught off guard by the change, but I think it shows the character of our team. We trust coach (Chris) Jones and any decision he makes. He did a great job putting together the talent that we have and the decisions they make come with the business. You just have to be professional about it and continue to work.”

The two passes Bowman dropped came in a heavy downpour, which affected receivers on both sides of the ball. It wasn’t until the rain stopped the Eskimos began scoring touchdowns. By that point, the Blue Bombers has lost their starting quarterback, Drew Willie, to a knee injury.

“It is a challenge, but it’s something I have to be able to do,” Bowman said. “You can’t really practice catching ball in that weather, unless it’s raining every day. It can cause some problems mentally in the way you approach it.”

Once the weather cleared, Bowman was able to shake off the drops and became Franklin’s preferred target in the end zone. The rookie showed a lot of poise in the victory, which has prompted a quarterback controversy.

“Franklin is coming along,” Bowman said. “He’s a younger guy, but he’s stepping in and when he’s getting the opportunity, he’s taking advantage of it and he’s done a great job of that.”

derek.vandiest@sunmedia.ca

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