Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
WINNIPEG — Darian Durant is out of the Bombers picture and while many around the league celebrate what was one of the top pivots in the CFL in the last decade, Winnipeg now searches for depth behind starter Matt Nichols with QB and Rookie camps less than a week away.
Durant signed a deal with the Bombers in January after being released by the Montreal Alouettes. The former Riders QB was coming off a disappointing year in Montreal and an opportunity to prolong his career with an offence that had steadily improved over the past few seasons seemed like a solid fit for the 2013 Grey Cup Champion.
Upon signing with Winnipeg, Durant was seemingly content with his role as backup. Shortly after inking the deal, Durant said the following about his situation:
“I don’t think it will be difficult at all,” he told BlueBombers.com. “When I first started my career, I was a practice squad guy and then I was a third-stringer and then I was a back-up. So I had to work my way up. I think everybody on the team has a role and I’m looking at this as ‘where can my talents be best served’ and I felt like coming in and helping Matt and being a security blanket for him, helping out in short-yardage and just being around Coach LaPo and a good environment just made it an easy decision for me.”
Fast-forward four months and the Bombers are in search of a backup and made clear that they were anticipating Durant being in the fold despite excusing the veteran QB from their Mini-Camp last month to weigh his options.
So what now?
One would assume the Bombers go out and try and add a few more arms to camp if not, at the very least, to take reps off the QBs they already have on their roster.
Dominique Davis is now in Ottawa and Dan LeFevour retired earlier in the offseason. The team has also released International quarterback Philip Nelson yesterday. Aside from Nichols, the Blue Bombers have a pair of pivots on the roster. One we know a little about, the other not so much.
ALEX ROSS
Alex Ross is the backup QB with the most experience on the Bombers depth chart. He spent one season with the BC Lions last year before signing in Winnipeg in the off-season (BCLions.com)Alex Ross we know from his time in BC. Ross was released by the Lions on April 12 after one season on the West Coast. He completed five of 12 passing attempts for 82 yards and two interceptions while backing up Jonathon Jennings and Travis Lulay.
A 6-foot-1 product of Coastal Carolina University, Ross, 25, remains his school’s all-time leader in passing yards, completions and touchdowns.
CHRIS STREVELER
Chris Streveler played two seasons with the University of South Dakota Coyotes, throwing for 6,081 yards and 54 touchdowns.
In 2017, Streveler was named MVFC Offensive Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award.
ZACK MAHONEY
Mere hours after Durant announced his retirement, the Bombers went out and signed former Syracuse quarterback Zack Mahoney.
Mahoney spent the past three seasons at Syracuse, the last two as the club’s primary backup. Mahoney played in 25 career games, starting nine, and threw for 1,949 yards and 18 touchdowns. He added 100 carries for 242 yards and four touchdowns.
