Collaros Sidelined, Brown Steps Up
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will be without starting quarterback Zach Collaros for their upcoming game against the Ottawa REDBLACKS. Collaros has been officially listed as out on the team’s injury report due to a neck injury. This marks the second consecutive game Collaros will miss, having been sidelined since Week 6.
Head coach Mike O’Shea confirmed on Friday that Collaros did not participate in practice and would not be available for Sunday’s matchup. O’Shea acknowledged the difficulty for any player missing time, stating, “Any time somebody misses out on something they love to do, it’s got to be tough for them.”
In Collaros’s absence, Dru Brown is expected to start at quarterback. Brown previously stepped in during Week 6, leading the Blue Bombers to a 30-21 victory over the Toronto Argonauts. In that game, Brown completed 25 of 31 passes for 339 yards, contributing one touchdown against one interception. This performance marked his second straight start for the club.
Collaros has completed 103 passes for 985 yards and five touchdowns for Winnipeg during the 2026 season. His neck injury occurred during a game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on July 5th, a contest where Taylor Elgersma took over at centre for the win.
Brown’s Return to Ottawa
The upcoming game holds a unique storyline for Brown, as he will be facing the team that traded him to Winnipeg just 24 days prior. Brown was the REDBLACKS‘ starter for the 2024-25 seasons. He signed with the Blue Bombers in 2020 and made his debut with the club in 2021.
During the offseason, Ryan Dindwiddie took over as general manager and head coach for Ottawa. While Brown initially received a vote of confidence, the situation changed over the winter and through training camp when Dindwiddie named Jake Maier as the REDBLACKS‘ starter after one preseason game. Brown then requested his release, which led to his trade to the Blue Bombers.
The REDBLACKS have had a challenging start to their season, with an 0-5 record. Brown, on the other hand, led the Blue Bombers to a victory in his first start since returning to the team. This turn of events has added significant interest to Sunday’s game.
Dindwiddie commented on the situation, stating, “I think any game, (Brown’s) going to want to play well, but especially this game. He’s probably got an axe to grind with it. But that’s not in our control. Defensively, whoever is in there, Zach or Dru, we’ve got to have a good performance.” He also noted, “We wanted to keep Dru around, and it didn’t work out. So, he got a chance to go to Winnipeg, and we got McLeod Bethel-Thompson in here, the veteran backup guy. But we still believe in Jake.”
The Blue Bombers have expressed confidence in Brown, who now holds a 3-1 record in his four career starts for Winnipeg. In three of those games, he has achieved over 300 passing yards. Veteran receiver Nic Demski, when asked if he was rooting for a “Dru Brown revenge game,” responded with a wide grin, indicating that the entire team shares that sentiment. “Everybody knows what the situation is. It’s pro football but, at the end of the day, everybody has a personal relationship with Dru since he’s been here before. Everybody knows how hard he works and how much preparation he puts into this. He’s putting on blue and gold so, of course, everybody wants him to have a good game.”
Upcoming Matchup Details
The Blue Bombers will face the REDBLACKS at TD Place on Sunday, July 19. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET. Canadian fans can watch the game on TSN/RDS2, while U.S. audiences can tune in on CBS Sports Network. International fans have the option to watch on CFL+.
In addition to Collaros being out, the Blue Bombers’ injury report also lists Demski and running back Brady Oliveira as questionable. The official depth chart for the game is expected to be released on Saturday morning.
In other team news, Trey Vaval set a new Blue Bombers franchise record last week with 332 yards in combined kick returns. This total included six punt returns for 79 yards, three kickoffs for 101 yards, and two missed field goal returns for 152 yards, highlighted by a 129-yard return that also set a new franchise record. Vaval’s 332 combined kick-return yards surpassed Eric Blount‘s 322 yards in 1998 and Albert Johnson III‘s 321 yards in 2000. This 332-yard total is also the ninth best in CFL history.
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Source: cfl.ca
Chloe Tremblay is the Sports Reporter at CasinoNews, covering basketball, tennis and athletics with nine years of reporting experience. She reported on the Raptors' rise and two Olympic cycles. She holds a degree in Journalism from Concordia University. Based in Montreal, she plays recreational basketball and follows track athletics. “The best stories come from the athletes everyone overlooks.”
