Terry Wilson stood patiently in the south end zone at Princess Auto Stadium for a good 10 minutes post Winnipeg Blue Bombers practice on Wednesday, entertaining himself by repeatedly throwing a football up in air and catching it while waiting for his turn to step in front of a throng of media for interviews.
A third-string quarterback tends to do that a lot — waiting, that is — while Zach Collaros and Chris Streveler get good chunks of the reps during practice and then the camera time after the session.
There usually aren’t a lot of eyeballs on the understudy to the understudy, after all.
Well, the landscape changed considerably for the Blue Bombers rookie pivot during the Banjo Bowl with Streveler’s unfortunate knee injury which has ended his season. Wilson stepped in to convert all three of his short-yardage opportunities after the injury in that game and with his move up the depth chart is now the proverbial one play away from leading the offence.
“My main focus is knowing what I have to do. Bottom line. And if Zach needs me to go in for a play and do a quarterback wedge, I have no problem with it,” Wilson said. “I’ve been diving into my playbook a lot harder than before things happened.
“Overall, I just want to be as confident as I can be for the game.”
There’s a lot to like about the 26-year-old Oklahoma City product who came to the Blue Bombers after looks from the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Gamblers and a college career that took him from Oregon to Garden City Community College to Kentucky and New Mexico.
“I like his confidence,” said Blue Bombers offensive coordinator Buck Pierce. “He commands huddles well. He’s played some pro football. He understands the process. He understands the business side of it as well.
“He understands how he needs to prepare, how he needs to prep. He asks good questions, he takes great notes, he’s dialled in at meetings — all these that lead you to believe with confidence. Just because he doesn’t get a lot of reps, he’s still always working and seems to verbalize things really well.
“He’s extremely talented. He moves well, he can make all the throws. It’s one of those things where it’s not until you get actual game reps that you can get a better feel for the guy. But he’s done all the things we’ve asked him to do around here.”
Still… his stat line makes him an unproven prospect: 13 games played with zero pass attempts and three rushes for six yards.
That, in part, is why two QBs with CFL experience in Jake Dolegala and Bryan Scott were airlifted in to Winnipeg.
“I knew they were going to bring some guys in but that’s not really something I’m worried about,” said Wilson. “I’m worried about getting better and what happens on that side, that’s part of the game. They’re good dudes. I was glad to meet them and welcome them in.”
Blue Bombers fans were first introduced to Wilson in rookie camp when he got his first real taste of all the intricacies that make the three-down game so different from the one down south — the extra man, the pre-snap motion, the wider field and deeper end zones.
And the player now some five months later is much more prepped for prime time.
“There’s been a lot of growing, a lot of learning, a lot of film study just watching the things I can get better on; watching Zach, watching Strev and how they do their things each day from 6:30 in the morning until they leave the building,” Wilson said. “Those are the things I like to pick up on and mimic. Seeing me now… it’s been a huge progress, a huge jump and I just want to continue to learn and get better and see where it takes me.”
OUCH UPDATE: DB Deatrick Nichols was back at his post with the starting defence on Wednesday after being excused from Tuesday’s session. Meanwhile, Kevens Clercius and Keric Wheatfall were taking most of the work in the spots previously occupied by Drew Wolitarsky (injured, ribs) and Josh Johnson (released on Monday). Lucky Whitehead was a non-participant again on Wednesday, with Kody Case and Evan Holm handling punt return chores.
As well, veteran linebacker Kyrie Wilson appears very close to returning.
“I’m ready to go whenever my number is called,” said Wilson. “It sucks because we miss a big piece in Adam Bighill, but I guess it’s good timing to be able to be back and help out and take over where he left off at.
“It’s all up to Coach O’Shea and I respect whatever decision he makes.”
Injury Report: September 18, 2024#ForTheW pic.twitter.com/ytl8kmwk9B
— Winnipeg Blue Bombers (@Wpg_BlueBombers) September 18, 2024
BRO VS. BRO: One of the cool subplots to Saturday’s visit to Edmonton will be Blue Bombers cornerback Tyrell Ford lining up opposite his twin brother Tre, who will get the start at quarterback for the Elks. That topic — and much, much more — can be found on the latest episode of The Huddle where Tyrell sat down and visited with us for close to an hour.
ICYMI, that episode can be found here: