Collaros back on field, preparing for rematch with Stampeders

Zach Collaros returned to practice from injury on Monday and should be ready to go for a Week 6 matchup against the visiting Calgary Stampeders Friday night.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers star quarterback missed last week’s win over the Ottawa Redblacks after sustaining what the CFL club called a thorax injury midway through a Week 4 loss to the same Stamps team on deck this week.

Collaros was in good spirits, even taking a couple of light shots at the wording of his injury.

“I was waiting for you guys to ask what it was, and I was going to say it was a thorax and I’m not quite sure what that was,” Collaros started. “I met somebody, and she works in the health-care system, and she was like, ‘I think I’m the only person who knows what a thorax is.’ I thought it was great. I thought it was a Dr. Seuss book or something. I think I read something like that to my kids.”

Jokes aside, Collaros looked solid in his first workout in more than a week. He was unaffected when rolling out of the pocket and throwing on the run, completing a majority of his passes.

Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said last week Collaros was close to returning but the medical staff wanted to give his injury more time to heal. It was the second game Collaros has missed to injury since joining the Bombers at the trade deadline in 2019.

“We just want to be smart about injuries, especially early on in the season. I know we’re not exactly where we want to be, but you don’t want things to compound,” Collaros said. “Our organization really cares about us as players and really relied on my input as well as communicating with the staff and doctors. We made the right decision, I thought it was the right decision and we won last week. I thought we played a really good game, really physical and it’s important to try and carry the momentum from that game into practice this week.”

STREVELER, THE ULTIMATE TEAMMATE

With Collaros out, Chris Streveler was handed the controls of the offence, making his first pro football start in almost five years.

Streveler did exactly what you would have imagined from the fearless player that he was with the Bombers in 2018 and 2019. The 29-year-old played mistake-free football, with most of his damage done on the ground rather than through the air.

He attempted 21 passes, completing 13 for 127 yards. He put his body on the line, running 13 times for 79 yards and punching in a one-yard QB sneak on Winnipeg’s lone touchdown drive.

“That’s how I play the game, man. And I love playing the game that way,” Streveler said. “It’s about going out there and honouring your teammates with the way you play. Whatever it takes to get a win. So that’ll never change. And the day it does, I’ll probably have to be done playing. Because that’s how I play the game and that’s how I love playing the game.”

Among the most selfless guys in the CFL, Streveler doesn’t think his gutsy performance should necessarily warrant more playing time. Like a broken record, he’ll tell you over and over again he’s here to do whatever he can to help the Bombers win.

“My answer is always going to be the same about that: I don’t care about my (play) package. I care about winning games, and that’s what’s important to me, that’s what I’m concerned with,” Streveler said. “Whatever that is, whether it’s being the wedge guy, whether it’s having a package, whether it’s bringing juice on the sidelines, man. I’m going to whatever I can do to help this team, day in and day out, be the best that we can be and I’m never going to worry about what my role looks like.”

BOMBERS RELEASE FAYAD

With the addition of receiver Lucky Whitehead, the Bombers have released defensive end Ali Fayad from the roster.

The 25-year-old played in three games for Winnipeg, registering one defensive tackle.

Jeff.Hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

X: @jeffkhamilton