WINNIPEG - The Winnipeg Blue Bombers acquired veteran quarterback Matt Nichols from the Edmonton Eskimos on Wednesday for a conditional seventh-round 2017 draft pick.

The six-foot-two, 215-pound Nichols joined Edmonton as a free agent in 2010. He started 12 games with the Eskimos, posting a 5-7 record.

All five victories have come this year, as Nichols was 5-2 as the Eskimos starter in 2015 after incumbent Mike Reilly suffered a knee injury in the club's season opener.

Nichols has completed 270-of-443 passes for 3,386 yards and 19 TD strikes during his CFL career but has also surrendered 18 interceptions.

He was named the Eskimos starter when Mike Reilly was injured earlier this season, but was benched in favour of James Franklin for last Friday's win over the Toronto Argonauts. Franklin seized the starting role as he threw for 335 yards and a toucdown, while adding another 51 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

Nichols certainly fills a need for the Bombers (3-6), who've dropped two straight since starter Drew Willy suffered a knee injury.

The initial diagnosis was Willy would miss six-to-eight weeks with the injury but there's speculation it could cost him the remainder of the season.

"Matt is a player with significant experience in this league," Bombers GM Kyle Walters said in a statement. "He has proven to be a solidified quarterback, and will come in and add immediate depth to this position on our roster."