Bombers’ Banjo Bowl defeat ends on low note with loss of Collaros

There’s only one storyline from Saturday’s Banjo Bowl that feels truly important: the health of Zach Collaros.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers led 13-12 late in the third quarter when their veteran quarterback left the game with what appears to be a head injury. The Bombers never recovered, and the Saskatchewan Roughriders went on to win 21-13.

Now sitting at 6-6, the Bombers have no choice but to dust themselves off and head to Hamilton to take on the Tiger-Cats on Friday. As for the 10-2 Roughriders, they can clinch a playoff spot next week with a home win over Montreal.

Before we move forward, let’s revisit the Collaros situation — and more — from the Labour Day rematch with another edition of 5 Takeaways.

CONCERN OVER COLLAROS

Not again.

Zach Collaros lay motionless on the field after taking a hit from blitzing Riders defensive back C.J. Reavis. Though he eventually got up and jogged off, he did not return to the game.

It was an uncomfortable scene that, unfortunately, everyone has seen before with Collaros having a well-documented history of head and neck injuries. It marked the third time this season Collaros hasn’t been able to finish a game due to injury.

The Bombers didn’t provide an update after the game and we likely won’t know more until Tuesday, when the team returns to practice. Head coach Mike O’Shea usually holds his cards close to his chest but didn’t hide his concern in his post-game presser.

“Yeah, he doesn’t stay down, usually. It’s not comforting, by any means,” said O’Shea.

“I hate to see that. I’m sure he’ll be OK. When, I don’t know.”

A head injury is what brought Collaros to Winnipeg in the first place.

He began the 2019 season with the Riders but took a nasty headshot in Week 1 from Hamilton linebacker Simoni Lawrence. At the time, many wondered if that was the last we’d see of him on the gridiron. Two trades later, he landed in Winnipeg and revived his career.

Now, after Saturday’s hit, the question of whether Collaros should ever play again is being asked once more — including by Bombers legend Milt Stegall.

“As far as Zach goes, I’m going to look at it from a standpoint of if that was my son, he wouldn’t step on the field again. He’s retired. That’s it. He’s never playing another down of football,” said Stegall on the TSN panel.

“I’m basing this on the assumption he suffered a concussion. It hasn’t been disclosed, but if that’s the case — Zach Collaros should not step on the field again.”

It was clearly a penalty, as there was helmet-to-helmet contact on the play — which was a strip-sack that was overturned after the Bombers challenged for roughing the passer — but there was no malicious intent. It’s a violent sport, after all.

It would be a shame to see a Hall of Fame career end this way, but no one wants to keep seeing this happen to the 37-year-old father of three.

STRUGGLING STREVELER

Assuming Collaros misses time, the Bombers will need Chris Streveler to be significantly better.

The No. 2 quarterback was brilliant in the season opener, tossing three touchdowns in a 34-20 win over the B.C. Lions. But that form has vanished. Since then, Streveler has gone 55-for-81 for 526 yards, two touchdowns and seven interceptions (to be fair, his seventh came on a Hail Mary on the final play of Saturday’s game).

Those aren’t winning numbers, and we haven’t seen enough from third-stringer Terry Wilson to suggest he’d be an upgrade.

Replacing Collaros late in a game against the league’s top-ranked defence was a tough spot for Streveler, but he took full accountability afterward, saying he didn’t make enough plays to help his team win.

It’s also fair to question if he’s still a true dual threat. Streveler rushed for 273 yards in 13 games last season — this year, he has just 106 yards through 12 contests.

WELCOME BACK WILSON

Ontaria Wilson lived up to the hype.

Fresh off being released by the NFL’s New York Jets, Wilson showed zero signs of rust. His 2025 CFL debut featured 89 receiving yards on five catches and a touchdown — leading all receivers. With Dalton Schoen out for the season with a torn ACL, it’s up to Wilson and Nic Demski to anchor the Blue and Gold’s aerial attack.

The stat sheet doesn’t show that two of Wilson’s targets resulted in interceptions. The second was on Collaros, who underthrew the ball, but the first appeared to be a miscommunication — a deep shot at the end of the half where Wilson ran his route incorrectly and the ball landed into the arms of Riders DB Marcus Sayles.

Growing pains were expected considering he’s been in town for just a week, but in a game that left Bomberland down in the dumps, Wilson was a bright spot — as was Brady Oliveira, who saw his Labour Day Classic rushing attempts quadrupled.

A TALE OF TWO LEGS

Nobody’s perfect — including Sergio Castillo.

The Blue Bombers kicker has arguably been the team’s most consistent performer this season, but his outing on Saturday hurt the team. The offence sputtered in the second half but did enough to get Castillo in range for two long field goals — both of which he missed.

He was wide from 51 yards at the end of the third quarter — a make would’ve put the Bombers up 16-12 — and missed again from 48 yards in the fourth, which would’ve given them a 16-15 lead.

Kicker was supposed to be a clear advantage for Winnipeg, especially given that Saskatchewan’s Brett Lauther came into the weekend with the league’s lowest field goal conversion rate (65 per cent). But Lauther came to play, going a perfect 5-for-5, including three field goals in the fourth quarter to seal the win.

“It’s frustrating because I feel like I let the team down,” said Castillo. “It could’ve been a different ball game, for sure.”

RIDERS RULE THE WEST

There’s still plenty of football left, but the fact that Winnipeg is 0-5 against the top two teams in the West — Saskatchewan and Calgary (8-4) — is troubling.

The Bombers will get another shot at the Riders when they host them again on Oct. 17, but the season series is already lost. Saskatchewan swept the back-to-back September set for the first time since 2018.

If you think that means the Riders are writing off the Bombers, think again. Just ask their right tackle Jermarcus Hardrick, who spent eight seasons with the Bombers before jumping ship in 2024.

“They were hard-fought wins, but I wouldn’t call it a statement,” said Hardrick.

“I’ve been in that locker room. I know the men they have, and I know what they’re gonna do.”

At this point, it’s looking like the only playoff game Princess Auto Stadium will host in 2025 is the Grey Cup.

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca