The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are getting their starting quarterback, fiery leader and one of the faces of the franchise back for this Saturday’s home date with the B.C. Lions.

Yes, this just in… Matt Nichols is back.

After Head Coach Mike O’Shea consulted with Bombers Head Athletic Therapist Al Couture this morning, the decision was made that the veteran pivot will line up against the Lions for his first start of the 2018 season.

The decision ends a couple of days of speculation about the status of Nichols, as he was removed from the six-game injured list late Tuesday and then on Wednesday, split time with rookie Chris Streveler running the Bombers No. 1 offence.

Nichols was injured in a non-contact play near the end of practice on June 6th, just eight days in advance of their season opener. A day later, he was officially placed on the six-game injured list.

The Bombers were 1-2 with Streveler at the controls, and the first straight-from-college rookie to open a season for a Canadian Football League team since Anthony Calvillo with the Las Vegas Posse in 1994 flashed so much promise with his dual-threat skill set.

Streveler is tied for the passing TD lead with six and is fifth in the league in rushing, but the offence sputtered in last Friday’s loss to Hamilton, as the passing attack generated just 146 yards.

In Nichols, the offence welcomes back the club’s Most Outstanding Player in 2016 and 2017, who has guided the team to a 21-9 record in his starts since replacing Drew Willy five games into the ’16 season. And over the last two years, Nichols has thrown for 8,138 yards with 46 passing touchdowns to just 17 interceptions.

On Wednesday, O’Shea hinted that as solid as Streveler has been in his first three professional starts, the Bombers were not considering a 1-2 quarterback punch.

“Once Matt’s ready to play, it’s his team,” said O’Shea. “That’s the bottom line. That’s not difficult for me to say at all. Playing two quarterbacks? I don’t know how that works or looks just yet. Maybe that’s something we discuss down the road. But most fiery competitors don’t ever want to come off the field.”

It also became obvious after practice Wednesday that while the Bombers love Streveler’s upside, in Nichols they trust.

“It’s just exciting to get your brother back out there, man,” said slotback Adarius Bowman. “Its like having one of your troops missing for a while and then he’s back. It puts an extra boost in our whole offence.”

More later after the Bombers complete their final full practice of the week.