Manitoba

Bombers yank Drew Willy, give Matt Nichols the nod

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are making a change at quarterback.

Nichols at the helm against his former team, the Eskimos, on Thursday

Winnipeg Blue Bombers' quarterback Matt Nichols throws a pass during a game against the Montreal Alouettes last September. Graham Hughes (Graham Hughes/Canadian Press)

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are making a change at quarterback.

Matt Nichols will start on Thursday against his former team the Edmonton Eskimos. They face the Grey Cup champions in Edmonton.

It's an effort to kick start the Bombers offense which has struggled with Drew Willy at the helm. They have been kept to under 20 points in three of their five games this season.

Nichols came off the bench at the end of the Bombers' 33-18 loss to the Stampeders last Thursday. That led to the only touchdown of the game.

Nichols was acquired from the Eskimos last September after Willy was injured and Thursday's game will be his 20th as a starter.

The Bombers are 1-4 this year.