Facing former teammates nothing new for Collaros

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This article was published 12/08/2021 (1526 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Tonight marks the first time quarterback Zach Collaros will play against the Toronto Argonauts since they traded him to Winnipeg in 2019.A juicy storyline, right? Not quite.

“I think I was definitely more upset with the Argos when they released me to sign in Hamilton in 2014. I had more of a chip on my shoulder, for sure, just about that,” Collaros said Thursday.

“It really worked out, obviously, being traded here and I’m blessed for the opportunity to be here. I have a lot of friends over there in that (Toronto) organization, not only in the locker room but other places, so no, no ill will. I’ll always have a chip on my shoulder for many things, but I can’t be mad about them trading me to Winnipeg.”Fair enough. After all, he did get a Grey Cup out of the deal.Collaros, who has also thrown passes for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Saskatchewan Roughriders in his career, quite often finds himself playing against a former team of his anyway.

“Small league, man, it’s a small league,” he said.INJURIES GALOREThe Bombers placed defensive back Josh Johnson and kick returner Janarion Grant on the six-game injured list on Thursday. Two more starters from last week, defensive tackle Steven Richardson and linebacker Jontrell Rocquemore, will also be out of action tonight as they’re on the one-game injured list. Running back Andrew Harris, wide receiver Darvin Adams, and linebacker Kyrie Wilson remain sidelined and have been placed on the one-game injured list for the second week in a row.Star defensive end Willie Jefferson didn’t practice this week but the depth chart has him down as a starter. With Johnson out, second-year Bomber Mike Jones will move from strong-side corner to strong-side linebacker/dimeback. CFL newcomer Josh Miller will slide into the strong-side corner spot for his first career start. There’s now three rookies in the secondary as DeAundre Alford and Deatrick Nichols are on the other side of the field.

“I’ve got a lot of confidence in those young guys,” said Bombers defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat. “They take the time. They really study film, they really work hard. They make sure that they’re ready to go, and they’ve got a group of vets with them that really has taken them under their wing and explained the game, explained just what we expect, what our expectations are for any of the new guys.”Defensive tackle Casey Sayles, a product of Ohio University who spent the beginning of 2020 in the XFL, will make his first career start as he takes Richardson’s spot. He’ll be backed up by Ricky Walker, a fellow former XFLer, who didn’t dress in Week 1.Rocquemore’s spot at weak-side linebacker will go to Canadian Jesse Briggs. The 31-year-old, who’s usually a standout on special teams, is in his seventh season with the Bombers.

“Yeah, Jesse Briggs, from his rookie season, was a guy that when they would hand out defensive tests would get 100 per cent right on the test and he wouldn’t sit there in a group to make sure he got the answers right,” head coach Mike O’Shea said.”He would just flip through the test, quickly do it, hand it in and it’d be all perfect, right? So, he always knows what to do.”taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31

Taylor Allen
Reporter

Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor.

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