Kaidon Salter will make his first CFL start Thursday night when the B. C.
Lions visit the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Winnipeg looks to recover from a recent home loss.
The Blue Bombers hold a 4-3 record, while the Lions are struggling at 1-5. Salter, a rookie quarterback, steps in after recent offensive struggles led to his promotion.
Veteran defensive lineman Willie Jefferson of Winnipeg warned against underestimating Salter despite his rookie status.
“You shouldn’t think that way,” Jefferson said after a team practice.
“Him coming in, you don’t want to take that lightly because when you take people lightly, that’s when you let them do things that you don’t expect.”
Lions head coach Buck Pierce praised Salter’s confidence and ability to energize the offense.
“You look at Kaidon, I think he plays with some moxie,” Pierce said. “I think he plays with a little bit of confidence back there as well, too.
He allows his guys to go out there and play football.”
Salter took over late in the Lions’ recent loss to Toronto, completing nine of 15 passes for 121 yards and running four times for 12 yards.
He played four seasons at Liberty University before transferring to Colorado. Though he was not drafted by the NFL, Salter’s college career included strong passing and rushing stats.
He was signed by B. C.
in May and impressed in preseason with accurate passing and a touchdown against Winnipeg.
Salter said he feels prepared for his first professional start and shared insights from his cousin Casey Printers, a former B.
C. quarterback and league MVP.
“He was just telling me how fast things can go and how fast things can happen,” Salter said.
“He was telling me that I’m capable of playing in this league.”
The Blue Bombers’ defense, which leads the league in sacks and pass knockdowns, will test Salter’s skills.
Winnipeg is coming off a 52-30 loss to Calgary that exposed weaknesses including six turnovers and special teams errors.
Quarterback Dru Brown, starting in place of injured Zach Collaros, threw four interceptions in that game.
Brown expressed relief at having a short turnaround to prepare for the Lions.
“Any time you kind of lay an egg, the best thing to do is just get back out there,” Brown said.
Head coach Mike O’Shea emphasized the importance of a strong offensive start and ball security.
“That start itself is going to be a big indicator on whether you’re winning or losing,” O’Shea said.
“As a coach, you’d like to see them take care of the football to start.”
Winnipeg will adjust its offensive line due to injury, while B. C.
will make six lineup changes including a new rookie running back.
