Bombers may be without QB
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ quest for an elusive home playoff game might have hit a snag.
Starter Matt Nichols is questionable for Friday’s regular-season finale at Calgary after suffering a leg injury in Saturday’s 36-27 loss to the visiting B.C. Lions.
Nichols, 30, has started all 17 of Winnipeg’s games, passing for 4,472 yards with 28 touchdowns and just eight interceptions.
Running back Andrew Harris (967 yards rushing, 100 catches for 829 yards) also left the B.C. game following a helmet-to-helmet hit, but he’s expected to play.
Winnipeg (11-6) is tied with Edmonton for second place in the West Division, two points ahead of Saskatchewan (10-7).
A win over Calgary or an Eskimos loss to the Roughriders on Saturday would give the Bombers second and home field for the conference semifinal Nov. 12.
That would be Winnipeg’s first home playoff game since 2011. But the Bombers have been unable to take care of business the last two weeks, losing to Toronto 29-28 and B.C. when a win in either game would have given them second.
If Calgary beats Winnipeg on Friday and Edmonton dispatches Saskatchewan, then the Eskimos will host the Bombers in the West semifinal.
Saskatchewan would clinch third by beating Edmonton and thus visit Winnipeg in the West semifinal. The Bombers hold the head-to-head tiebreaker.