Eskimos backups bomb in Winnipeg
In case you’re wondering, Johnny Football threw no passes for no yards Friday at Investors Group Field.
With Grey Cup tickets selling like wildfire back home and the pre-season edition of Manzielmania kicking off in the neighbouring province, the Edmonton Eskimos were stuck in the middle to close out their 2018 exhibition schedule with an untelevised 33-13 loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in front of 23,034.
Some version of the Edmonton Eskimos, anyway, as 63 of the club’s 88-player training camp roster made the trip, while established veterans the likes of Mike Reilly, C.J. Gable, Almondo Sewell and J.C. Sherritt remained home.
That left five of 24 offensive and defensive spots filled by projected starters Friday.
“All the new guys being thrust into a position, how fast do they learn stuff ?” Eskimos head coach Jason Maas said.
“Once you watch the game and they have to make decisions and (show) what kind of playmaking ability they have, that all shows up in the game.“
Zach Kline got his first start at quarterback, opening both halves for the Eskimos on his way to completing three of 11 passes for 50 yards and an interception, while carrying four times for a team-high 25 yards.
But before he even took to the field, Jordan Robinson put Edmonton ahead 7-0 with a 98-yard punt return into the end zone, a place no Eskimos return man has visited since 2015.
Kline’s first pass went down as an interception after being bobbled by Scott MacDonell, before the former Eskimos connection of Matt Nichols to Adarius Bowman 15 yards into the end zone tied the game.
Nichols completed seven of 13 passes for 107 yards, an interception and the touchdown over seven series of work, before Johnny Augustine ran up the gut for an 18-yard touchdown to put Winnipeg ahead 20-10 at the half.
But Bombers backup Chris Streveler stole the show, completing a perfect 10-of-10 for 140 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown to Myles White to lead 29-13.
In and out: Eskimos WR Torrance Gibson, who came up with a 44yard catch down the sideline on Kline’s only play of note, limped off the field with a right hamstring injury prior to halftime.