‘It wasn’t a fit’: Redblacks coach on sending QB Dru Brown back to Winnipeg

OTTAWA — The Ottawa Redblacks may be 0-5, but Ryan Dinwiddie has no regrets about how the Dru Brown situation unfolded.

The head coach and general manager also stands by his decision to name Jake Maier — who has struggled mightily this season — the team’s starting quarterback over Brown.

“When you make a decision, and you feel this guy is your best quarterback, what am I going to do, cater to Dru and say ‘Hey, you don’t want to be the backup? OK, we’re gonna name you the starter.’ That’s not how things work,” Dinwiddie told the Free Press in a one-on-one chat.

“It worked out that way, it wasn’t a fit, and now we’re trying to move forward and trying to find some answers here in our building.”

Maier was handed the QB1 job a week and a half before the season opener. Brown asked to be released, but the Redblacks didn’t want to lose him for nothing, so they traded him to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on June 23.

The Bombers (3-2), with Brown under centre in place of an injured Zach Collaros (neck), take on the Redblacks in Ottawa on Sunday (6 p.m. CT).

Brown was Ottawa’s starting pivot for the past two seasons before Dinwiddie was hired from Toronto in the off-season.

“Obviously, we know Dru’s a capable quarterback — that’s why we wanted to keep him here,” said Dinwiddie.

“It just didn’t work out. And not naming him the starter, that didn’t sit well with him, and he wanted to get out of here. So, some of those things are out of our control when it comes to that.”

After the deal, Dinwiddie criticized Brown’s arm strength and labelled him a “distraction.”

“I’m not just going to say ‘No comment,’ right? You get a bunch of questions on it, and I just said Jake’s got a stronger arm, which is true. It’s not a knock on Dru, he’s a very capable quarterback … I was just stating the facts,” said Dinwiddie.

A fact that can’t be argued is that Maier has not been good enough. He’s near the bottom of most quarterback statistical categories, and the Redblacks rank last in points per game (23.8).

Then there’s Brown, who was brilliant in last week’s 30-21 win over Toronto despite having very limited practice time with Winnipeg. He was named one of the CFL’s Players of the Week after completing 80 per cent of his passes for 339 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

“Yeah, no doubt (Brown played well against Toronto) — he got a win,” said Dinwiddie.

“But you know, two different situations, two different teams. Jake had four picks last week and one was late in the game where we’re trying to force a ball down field and we’re down by a lot, right? But there are some things we need to clean up there, but it’s not always on the quarterback. We got to play better football and we’re asking the quarterback to do a lot where he’s not just managing games.”

Brown has an opportunity to make his former boss eat his words, but the 29-year-old isn’t adding any more fuel to the fire.

“I just think that I wasn’t maybe what they wanted, and that’s OK,” said Brown shortly after landing in Ottawa on Saturday.

“I don’t have any feelings towards it. I think things like this happen. I’m grateful for my time here in Ottawa, but also, extremely grateful to be back with Winnipeg.

“Any chance I get to go out there and play, I’m not necessarily out to prove anyone wrong. To me, the game is too complex and too hard to have an emotional attachment to these games.”

COLLAROS PLACED ON SIX-GAME

The Bombers moved Collaros to the six-game injured list on Saturday.

The move doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be sidelined long term, however.

Teams often make the move for financial reasons because the salaries of players on the six-game injured list do not count against the salary cap. It also provides greater roster flexibility while an injured player works his way back.

Collaros can be activated at any point.

“Yeah, I certainly don’t think it’s going to be that long,” said Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea.

“Obviously, it’s sort of the way you handle your business this year: you pretty well put everybody on the six-game just in case.”

The Bombers also placed defensive tackle Cam Lawson on the six-game injured list.

“I don’t know if he’ll be the full six weeks either,” said O’Shea.

“I saw him running around the other day, so, I’m sure he’s (back) sooner than later.”

WINNIPEGGER IN OTTAWA

The Redblacks used the first overall pick in the 2026 CFL Draft on Winnipeg offensive lineman Giordano Vaccaro.

They’ve wasted no time putting the former Purdue product to work. He’s started all five games at right guard and will once again be in that spot Sunday against his hometown team.

“We felt like he was clearly the No. 1 pick and we’re happy with that pick still,” said Dinwiddie.

“Gio’s growing into a really good professional. Now he’s had some moments where he’s gotten a little bit overmatched, and you know, it’s a little different than the college level — he’s a rookie. But we’re happy with his development and he’ll continue to get better.”

Bombers defensive end Willie Jefferson, who lives in Winnipeg, has known Vaccaro for years. Before taking the NCAA route, Vaccaro played for the Manitoba Bisons and would occasionally cross paths with Jefferson during off-season workouts.

The future Hall of Fame pass rusher has no plans to take it easy on his young friend.

“He’s coming along,” said Jefferson, with a grin. “He’s gonna get it, he’s gonna get it for sure. I can’t wait.”

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