‘Tough as nails’ Collaros looks fine in practice

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This article was published 18/11/2022 (1025 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

REGINA— Here’s your daily Zach Collaros update: he practised on Friday and looked like himself.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback moved around the pocket well and even used his legs a few times.

It was the first time Collaros, who’s battling an ankle injury he suffered in last week’s West Division final against the B.C. Lions, practised this week as he sat out Wednesday and Thursday.

Head coach Mike O’Shea told reporters Friday Collaros will play. He was asked if Collaros would play if they were playing a regular season game on Sunday, and not the Grey Cup against the Toronto Argonauts, and O’Shea still said yes.

Bombers running back Brady Oliveira has had no doubts about Collaros all week.

“The guy’s a fighter,” said Oliveira said after Friday’s practice at Leibel Field in Regina. “He’s tough. He’s tough as nails. There’s no doubt in my mind that he wouldn’t be playing this game. He’s ready to go. He looked great out there today and we’re excited to have him on the field with us Sunday.”

The CFLPA revealed its 2022 all-star team Friday afternoon and the Bombers had eight individuals make the cut: Collaros, left tackle Stanley Bryant, right tackle Jermarcus Hardrick, guard Patrick Neufeld, receiver Nic Demski, linebacker Adam Bighill, defensive back Deatrick Nichols, and head coach Mike O’Shea.

Dalton Schoen, who led the league in receiving yards(1,441) and receiving touchdowns (16) was somehow not included.

Commissioner Randy Ambrosie announced Friday CFL playoff games, excluding the Grey Cup, will now take place on Saturdays instead of Sundays. With the switch, post-season contests will no longer go up against the NFL and it will also give the teams who win the division finals an extra day to prepare for Grey Cup week.

“I actually brought it up to the league this week. This is the biggest game of the year. It almost turns into a six-day week with the travel,” said Argos head coach Ryan Dinwiddie. “And prep wise, you’ve got to get your prep done. You have to. But as far as your regular schedule and as far as prepping, it’s not the same. I think it’s a smart move and I think it’s a chance to make sure everybody’s prepared and putting out our best effort so fans are excited about what we’re putting on the field for the Grey Cup.”

Outside of Collaros, Argos running back Andrew Harris has been the biggest story of the week. Nearly every day he’s had to talk about his feelings about facing his former team on Sunday.

The Winnipegger, who had his second child last week, a baby boy named Axton, admitted Friday it’s been an exhausting week.

“Absolutely, and the week before with the baby. Yesterday I slept for 12 hours. It was nice to kind of catch up,” said Harris.

“The next two days it’s all team (stuff) and I can just prep now. This is my last media scrum until after the game, so I’m just looking forward to getting rest and getting focused on the game.”

The 35-year-old Harris also talked about whether or not the guy that replaced him in Winnipeg, fellow Winnipegger Brady Oliveira, can have a career similar to his.

“He definitely has the intangibles. The biggest thing, as you know, is it’s hard to play this long with all those touches,” said Harris.

“The biggest thing is staying healthy and if he does, he will absolutely be right there, for sure.”

No matter what happens Sunday, Bombers fullback/special teams ace Mike Miller wants to play next season.

He’s already the CFL’s all-time leader in special teams tackles, but Miller, a 33-year-old in his 11th season, is motivated to keep going.

“I still have the want to do it and I feel like I can still do it, so I’m going to continue to do it,” said Miller. “I love the game, I love this team, I love my teammates, and I love competing. I told myself I wouldn’t stop doing it for as long as I can do it so I’m going to keep playing for as long as I can.”

Bombers receiver Rasheed Bailey was a game-time decision last Sunday with a knee injury.

He said his knee has been giving him some issues, but there was no way he was missing the game. Or Sunday’s Grey Cup for that matter.

“At this point of the season, nobody’s out there at 100 per cent. If you are, that means you’ve been leaving something in the tank,” Bailey said. “We have guys on this team that leave it all out there and I’m one of those guys… There was no doubt that I was going to play that game.”

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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