Bombers trading places in Week 3

Zach Collaros had, let’s just say, a unique vantage point for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ 34-20 season-opening victory over the B.C. Lions last Thursday.

The veteran quarterback was unable to play, or even watch from the sidelines, owing to a one-game suspension for failing to respond to an off-season drug-testing request.

“I was pacing the hallways, and in the weight room walking on the treadmill,” Collaros told reporters after Monday’s practice.

“It was cool to watch it on TV, you could hear the crowd erupting before something good happened, so, that was cool, to anticipate what was gonna happen. But yeah, it was not a fun experience.”

He did, however, have a front row view of something he didn’t want to see: star running back and reigning CFL Most Outstanding Player Brady Oliveira coming to the back to get checked out after exiting the contest in the first quarter with a shoulder injury. Oliveira did not return to the game, and it was reported over the weekend that the Bombers may be without him for several weeks.

“When Brady went down, I was in the locker room. Being able to see him when that happened was a different thing than I’m typically used to, obviously,” said Collaros. “Going to get him a Gatorade and a protein bar is pretty much all I could do in that moment and tell him that he’s going to be all right.”

Head coach Mike O’Shea declined to give an update on Oliveira’s status, but was asked if it’s an encouraging sign that he was seen tossing a football with receiver Nic Demski when Monday’s session wrapped up.

“Tossing footballs and delivering hits are two different things,” responded O’Shea.

Thanks to Matthew Peterson, the Bombers might just be all right, though. With Oliveira down and out, Peterson — who was acquired in a trade with Hamilton in April after not playing last season as a rookie with the Tiger-Cats — went off for 130 rushing yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. His biggest play came in the second quarter when he found a hole and ran downhill for a 38-yard touchdown.

No. 2 pivot Chris Streveler was under centre for Winnipeg and had one of his most complete games as a pro by tossing for 246 passing yards and three touchdowns.

Collaros will get his chance to hand the ball off to Peterson on Saturday when the Bombers are on the road for a rematch against the Lions (1-1) at 6 p.m. CT.

“He’s taken a lot of reps during camp, and he’s a done a great job, but you know, he’s a rookie player, backing up the MOP, a guy that means so much to our organization,” said Collaros.

“You prepare each and every day for your opportunity to come, and when it does come, you have to take advantage of it. But you don’t necessarily think all the time that it’s going to happen. For him to play the way he did, I thought was awesome. It obviously helps us build depth at that spot which is always a good thing. He’s got a great leader in that room with Brady, so, he’d be prepared to play if called upon.”

When Peterson got the news that he was heading in, offensive line coach Marty Costello reminded him to have fun. The former University of Alberta standout enjoyed some big games at Princess Auto Stadium in his U Sports days, and has now shown he can also do it at this level.

“It was my debut, so I think I kind of took them by surprise a little bit,” said Peterson, 24, who was picked in the fourth round of the 2024 CFL draft.

“And just this next game, they’re gonna have to know who I am and how to stop me. But with the weapons we have, it’s gonna be tough.”

There were moments where he easily could’ve been mistaken for Oliveira.

Peterson, a Brooks, Alta., product, was the Canada West Player of the Year in 2023 after leading the conference in rushing.

“When you come to Winnipeg, you know we’re gonna run the rock and we’re gonna pound it, and that’s what we did,” said Peterson.

“We make sure that we go and pound the rock constantly… and making sure that we’re always kind of doing it like (retired NFL star) Marshawn (Lynch), running through someone’s face over, over, and over again. That’s what we brought.”

Playing like that certainly earned him a stamp of approval from his banged-up teammate after the final whistle.

“I just said, ‘Everything for you,’” Peterson said. “And he said, ‘Good job, buddy.’”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca