EDMONTON — It was going to be a breakthrough campaign for career backup quarterback Matt Nichols, the year he fought to be the No. 1 signal caller.
Instead the 26-year-old Edmonton Eskimo formally ended his 2013 season Tuesday with the announcement he will undergo surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament on his right knee. It’s an injury — received in last week’s pre-season game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders —that reinforced Nichols’ reputation for fearless play, but also suggested the California native is fast becoming his own worst enemy.
Nichols, his knee wrapped in a bandage, had a quick answer to concerns he competes with too much reckless abandon at such a critical position.
“I don’t really plan on changing the way I play,” Nichols told reporters at Commonwealth Stadium prior to the team practice. “The quarterback position is a little bit more than just being able to throw a football. It’s about being a team leader.”
Nichols was hurt last Friday after the injury in the 31-24 loss at Commonwealth Stadium.
It was late in the first quarter when Nichols threw a quick slant pass to receiver Ed Gant. The ball bounced off Gant’s hands and was caught by Riders’ defensive back Carlos Thomas, who raced 30 yards untouched down the sideline to paydirt, led by defensive end Kenny Rowe.
There was no one in sight, an easy pick-six in a meaningless game, but then came Nichols barrelling in on an angle, determined to catch Thomas at the goal-line. He ran straight into the path of Rowe who delivered a textbook hit to the shoulder.
Nichols legs got caught under him and down he went in a heap, clutching his right knee as the Riders celebrated the TD.
“All my weight just kind of happened to be on my right leg and it got pushed on my left shoulder,” said Nichols.