WINNIPEG — All eyes were on quarterback Chris Streveler today at Blue Bombers practice as the rookie took the majority of first team reps to open practice.

Following practice, head coach Mike O’Shea confirmed that the South Dakota product will indeed start Week 1 in Winnipeg’s season opener.

Mike O’Shea confirms Chris Streveler will start at QB for the #Bombers this week — Ed Tait (@EdTaitWFC) June 11, 2018

Chris Streveler working with #Bombers first team O to open practice today. — Ed Tait (@EdTaitWFC) June 11, 2018

Streveler saw action in both of Winnipeg’s pre-season games, going a combined 13 of 19 for 184 yards two touchdowns and one interception. Streveler looks to temporarily take the starting spot from Matt Nichols who is on the shelf for four to six weeks with a knee injury.

At this point, Streveler seems to be ahead of both Alex Ross and Bryan Bennett who are also vying for playing time but he will need to get up to speed in short order with the Bombers opening the season on Thursday when they host Mike Reilly and the Edmonton Eskimos.

Streveler comes right out of college where he played two seasons with the University of South Dakota. While with the Coyotes, he threw for 6,081 yards and 54 touchdowns. In 2017, Streveler was named MVFC Offensive Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award.

In other Blue Bombers news, Darrin Bauming is reporting that a number of players who were potentially going to be held out of the lineup this week are indeed practicing, including DB Ian Wild, RB Kienan LaFrance and DB Maurice Leggett.