‘Not a chance’: Bombers’ O’Shea declines to name starting QB

Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea has been steadfast in his support of Matt Nichols this season, but that may have changed based on what he didn’t say on his weekly CJOB radio show with Bob Irving.

“Not a chance,” O’Shea said when asked if he would name a starter for the Bombers Week 15 game against Montreal.

O’Shea benched Nichols in Winnipeg’s Banjo Bowl loss to Saskatchewan. Nichols was 10-of-20 for 165 yards with no touchdowns and the three interceptions as the Riders took a 20-17 lead into halftime when the change at quarterback was made to Chris Streveler at the beginning of the third quarter.

“If you talk to Matt it might have been his worst half of football he’s ever played,” O’Shea said.

That 30 minutes has at least given pause to the status of Nichols as the starting quarterback going forward.