Stamps starting quarterback Jake Maier didn’t take many snaps in preseason, tossing the ball just three times.

The reason was simple: the team knew what they had in the No.-1 pivot, electing to keep him fresh for the games that matter as the team looks to win its ninth Grey Cup.

That quest begins Thursday night when the Red & White open the 2023 campaign at home against the visiting BC Lions at 7 p.m. at McMahon Stadium (BUY TICKETS HERE).

Stampeders quarterbacks coach Marc Mueller is happy with what he saw from Maier in the recent weeks heading into week one’s tilt with the Leos.

“I think he had a good camp,” he explained. “I think he showed us the same guy that we were comfortable with last year and hopefully he continues to grow and continues to play winning football.”

Mueller said Maier making the right plays at the right times will contribute to him playing that winning style of football that saw him go 6-3 as the starter after taking over for Bo Levi Mitchell in Week 11 last season.

“I think it’s just putting the ball in the right places,” he explained. “Getting it to the right guys and understanding that there are certain times in the game to situationally do the right thing. We’ve done a lot of situational football during camp and I think that should help the quarterback role.”

With Maier not taking many snaps, the Stamps got long looks at the other QBs in camp and elected to keep all of them around after a tight battle in the preseason.

Newcomers Chris Reynolds and Logan Bonner join Tommy Stevens, who returns for his second year with the club.

Mueller said he likes the diversity of the group.

“I think we have a good group of guys,” he explained. “They do the things that are asked of them and they are all a little bit different which is good. When you have four different guys that do different things it makes the whole group better.”

And when it comes to feedback or guidance, Mueller isn’t the only sounding voice in the dressing room. Maier has stepped into the role of providing mentorship to the other pivots.

“I think any time you have a guy like Bo to lean on for questions it was good, but now those questions from the young guys go to Jake,” said Mueller. “I think it’s a good room, it’s different, every year is different, but I’m just excited to see where this group takes us.”