Former Eastern Eagle Matt Nichols looked good in starting role

Perhaps the injury shoe that Matt Nichols has worn throughout much of his professional football career in Canada has worn out?

Or he’s outgrown it and never wants to wear that style again?

The former Eastern Eagle who was twice named Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year in 2007 and 2009. Nichols later earned a tryout with the Dallas Cowboys, was originally signed by the Edmonton Eskimos in 2010, but has spent the majority of his CFL career on crutches it seems.

But July 9, as his team returned to Commonwealth Stadium after being made homeless by Canada hosting the Women’s World Cup, Nichols got his first start of 2015 and he helped deliver a sound 46-17 thrashing of the Ottawa RedBlacks.

In three quarters of work Nichols was 12-for-21 passing for three touchdowns and an interception in a game that was all but over at half where the Eskimos led 36-11.

Nichols’ start came courtesy of injury to Edmonton’s journeyman quarterback Mike Reilly, who injured his knee in a loss to Toronto June 27 in the CFL opener and is out 10-12 weeks.

Playing his college career at EWU, Nichols was injury-free. But once he crossed the international border, that free Canadian healthcare system has gotten a real workout.

First it was a grotesque Joe Theisman-esque injury, a dislocated ankle suffered in the 2012 playoffs while doing mop-up work for Reilly. Fully rehabbed, Nichols then injured his right knee in the Eskimos first preseason game of 2013 and another season was lost.

Nichols earned more playing time last season, seeing action in 18 games with three starts. That paved the way for what looked like an easy transition last week.

“The reps from last year went a long way going into this year,” Nichols said in postgame interviews at Esks.com. “I felt back to myself, the game seems slow to me, I felt like I was making some good throws.”

But he got some early help when his team’s defense staked the Eskimos a quick 7-0 lead on rookie defensive back John Ojo’s 57-yard interception return for a touchdown.

“It’s huge, it takes a lot of pressure off your shoulders,” Nichols said. “Anytime you can put pressure on the other team and force them into making bad decisions obviously you’re going to be successful.”

Nichols led Edmonton to a pair of offensive “majors” (CFL for touchdowns) and build a big lead that would never get away.

Having two weeks to prepare for the start helped Nichols. Edmonton had a bye following their loss to Toronto. But he was still introspective and critical of his work.

“There are six or seven things I’d like change, six or seven plays I’d like to have back,” Nichols said. “For the most part, every game you play you’re going to wish you did a couple things differently.”

One of those came in the second quarter when onrushing Ottawa defensive lineman Zack Evans was the surprise recipient of a Nichols’ shovel pass and returned it 65 yards for the first Redblack touchdown.

“You can call it an interception if you want, that’s a 100-percent run play for us just because it’s a shovel (pass); it’s counted as a completion or an interception, that happens,” Nichols said stoically. “The guy made a great play, it was kind of a fluke thing, we let a D-lineman come through untouched.”

Besides a nice stats line, his successful night got Nichols some rest as finally it was someone else’s turn to do the mop-up duty. That job went to former Missouri quarterback James Franklin who ran the offense in the fourth quarter.

“Anytime you only need to play three quarters as a starter is a good day for your football team,” Nichols said.

The breather gave Nichols a chance to chat and reminisce a bit with Reilly, who was on the sidelines in a knee brace.

“I was telling Mike it’s been a long time since I’d given way to someone because we were up by so much,” Nichols said. “It’s been since college for me.”

To be exact that was Halloween, 2009 at Qwest Field in Seattle where the Eagles throttled Portland State 47-10 and Jeff Minnerly took some reps going 0-for-2 in the inaugural “Showdown on the Sound.” 

Nichols will get to do it all over again — against Ottawa again — in the Esks’ next game, July 17 on the road.

“It’s kind of weird that you bounce back and play the same team twice — usually that’s once a year for us with Calgary — at least we get more than the (usual) 3-4 days rest in between,” Nichols said.

But now he knows the drill just a little better. “You’re going to be more comfortable in week seven than week two,” he said, adding that he felt in a comfort zone, much like he did at Eastern.

And that’s a much better feeling than Nichols has had in along time in Edmonton.

Paul Delaney can be reached at pdelaney@cheneyfreepress.com.