‘I’m ready to play,’ says Collaros

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/11/2022 (1031 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

REGINA – Concerns over whether Zach Collaros would be healthy enough to play this week have officially been put to rest.

Facing the media for the first time since arriving in Regina, Collaros confirmed Thursday he’ll be ready to go against the Toronto Argonauts in the 109th Grey Cup Sunday.

Collaros’ health status had been put in doubt ever since he suffered an ankle injury late in the Western final against the B.C. Lions. Those concerns were only heightened after the Bombers quarterback missed the team’s first practice on Wednesday.

“I’m ready to play,” Collaros said. “I don’t like missing practice. Every rep is important, whether it’s a game rep or a practice rep. From the way that I see the game, I see the position, I think you should be practising. So, it’s tough.”

Collaros, the CFL’s reigning most outstanding player, was also held out of Thursday’s workout. It’s unclear if he’ll practice at all this week, though that doesn’t seem to be an issue with head coach Mike O’Shea.

“It’s pro football, it’s a contact sport, and there’s guys missing from practice all the time,” O’Shea said. “Obviously, Zach is a leader on our team, but it doesn’t really work like that for this group at practice. They go out there and they put in the work for the guys that can’t in that moment.”

Collaros wasn’t all that forthcoming with the assembled media when asked about his ankle, or how his injury might affect his play come Sunday. In an interview with the Free Press, he said while it throws a bit of a wrench into his preparation this week, things could have been worse.

“We got the best possible news from all the tests that we’ve run and I’m confident in the training staff and I’m confident with what they’re telling me in how to prepare,” he said. “And the there’s adrenaline and all those other things.”

Asked to reflect on the injury, which occurred in the Bombers second-last offensive series against the Lions, Collaros felt he could have done something better on the play to prevent from putting himself in harm’s way.

He’s also not feeling sorry for himself.

“Football is unforgiving,” Collaros said. “It’s just one of the things we have to deal with as a team and something I have to deal with personally. I honestly do feel good.”

Collaros and the Bombers have the chance to win their third consecutive Grey Cup, a feat that hasn’t been done in more than 40 years. Edmonton won five straight from 1978 to 1982.

“It’s been an awesome experience. The city of Regina has done a really good job of setting the entire thing up,” he said. “It’s been really nice getting to spend time with teammates, watching extra tape. Just getting to know guys a little bit more for the last week that we’re all together.”

The longest-serving Bombers player likely won’t hang up the cleats after Sunday’s Grey Cup.

Win or lose this weekend, defensive tackle Jake Thomas, a 31-year-old in his 10th season in Winnipeg, is leaning towards returning in 2023.

“Yeah, I think the easiest answer is winning is contagious. It’s fun to play in these games, it’s fun to play in the playoffs, it’s fun to win a lot of games. I’d say it’s hard to walk away at this point,” Thomas told the Free Press at Thursday’s media day.

“My wife still allows me to play which is another check mark, but I’m at the point of my career where it’s year to year. At some points, day to day. But I’ll sit back once this is all over and I’ll make a decision probably before January, just so I can have a full training regimen if I come back. But right now, I haven’t really thought about it. But I will say I’m leaning more and more towards playing.”

If the Bombers win on Sunday, what’s left for general manager Kyle Walters to accomplish in Winnipeg?

“With that monkey (the 29-year Grey Cup drought) off our back, so to speak, now every year is different. I think the fans put more on the back-to-back-to-back and that sort of stuff than us and the players,” said Walters.

“We just focus on one week at a time and that translates to, from my standpoint, whatever happens on Sunday if we win or lose, you go ‘OK, what’s next year look like?’ And you start focusing on trying to win again next year. You’re more dialed in each year, more so than resting on your accolades.”

Walters took over as the team’s general manager in 2013 and slowly built the Bombers into what they are today. As for moving on to a different team to take on a similar challenge, Walters says no thanks.

“No, that doesn’t sound fun at all,” said Walters. “This is way more fun, to be honest.”

When the Bombers landed in Regina on Tuesday, receiver Drew Wolitarsky stepped off the airplane with his guitar case.

“Yeah, I play at night just as a way to relax and tone down the day. I’ve been trying to get with (safety Brandon Alexander) and do some stuff, but the schedule’s been tight,” Wolitarsky said.

Alexander is an ideal duet partner as he released his own rap album last year. Which teammate would be Wolitarsky’s last choice?

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

Mike McIntyre | On Sports

Thursdays

Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter.

Sign up for Mike McIntyre | On Sports

Sign Up

I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

“(Offensive lineman) Geoff Gray. I don’t think he knows one song. I asked him this morning ‘A million dollars if you can answer this, which band sings We Are the Champions?’ He had no clue.”

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton

Twitter: @taylorallen31

Jeff Hamilton
Multimedia producer

After a slew of injuries playing hockey that included breaks to the wrist, arm, and collar bone; a tear of the medial collateral ligament in both knees; as well as a collapsed lung, Jeff figured it was a good idea to take his interest in sports off the ice and in to the classroom.

   Read full biography

Taylor Allen
Reporter

Eighteen years old and still in high school, Taylor got his start with the Free Press on June 1, 2011. Well, sort of...

   Read full biography