‘Fired up to have him back’

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are thrilled to welcome Dru Brown back into the fold.

“I’m just excited to have my friend back,” said starting quarterback Zach Collaros on Wednesday.

“I’m pretty ecstatic about it, honestly. Dru was one of my guys when he was here,” said running back Brady Oliveira.

The eventual arrival of the 29-year-old pivot — who was acquired in a trade with the Ottawa Redblacks on Tuesday and is still on his way to Winnipeg — does, however, complicate things for the club’s current No. 2 quarterback, Taylor Elgersma.

The 24-year-old rookie could develop into a cornerstone piece one day, but for 2026, the Bombers felt they needed an experienced arm in the bullpen in case Collaros goes down.

“We made our team better,” said head coach Mike O’Shea.

“Any time you get an opportunity to add more experience to your roster you have to seriously look at it.”

Both O’Shea and Collaros had conversations with Elgersma after the trade was made and the up-and-comer admitted that was appreciated.

Elgersma will remain as QB2 for Thursday’s home tilt with the Edmonton Elks (7:30 p.m. CT), but once Brown gets to town and gets settled, the backup gig will likely be his.

Brown spent 2021 through 2023 with the Bombers before becoming Ottawa’s starter these past two seasons.

“As an athlete you always have to respond well. And that’s what my job is in this: to show up and be the same guy in the building every single day and compete to the highest level of my ability,” said Elgersma.

“I have confidence in myself. I trust our staff and our coaches. I’ve heard nothing but good things about him. For our team, it’s another good add for us to continue to build towards a Grey Cup. And that’s ultimately what my goal is as well.”

Oliveira has a soft spot for what Elgersma is currently going through. At the start of his career, he was stuck behind Andrew Harris on the depth chart.

“There were lots of tough days for me coming in here. You’re so eager and so hungry to want it now. You have to take a step back and humble yourself a little bit and say, ‘Hey, this is a great opportunity to learn and grow,’” said Oliveira.

“My advice… just be patient. But understand when your opportunity does come you need to be ready.

“He’ll be ready,” Oliveira added.

O’Shea echoed a similar sentiment regarding the young Canadian passer.

“He’s got a tremendously bright future,” said O’Shea on Elgersma. “This doesn’t change that.”

It shouldn’t take Brown long to learn the playbook. He already has familiarity with Bombers offensive co-ordinator Tommy Condell who was Ottawa’s playcaller from 2024-25.

Brown was made available after losing the starting gig to Jake Maier in training camp.

“I knew Dru wanted to be back here, for sure,” said Collaros. “I’m very fired up to have him back. One of my closest friends. Gives a lot of great insight into the game-planning part of it, the whole strategy thing.”

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