First the good news, Zach’s back

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This article was published 04/09/2024 (399 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers got a dose of good news and bad news as they returned to practice Wednesday ahead of their rematch against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Banjo Bowl Saturday afternoon.

The good news was apparent almost immediately with the return of quarterback Zach Collaros. Collaros was a full participant in the workout and looked no worse for wear from the head shot he took a few days earlier, connecting on several deep balls in the nearly two-hour session.

The veteran pivot was on the receiving end of a shoulder to the helmet by Riders defensive lineman Miles Brown just before halftime in Sunday’s annual Labour Day Classic at Mosaic Stadium in Regina. Collaros was first tended to on the field before retreating to the locker room, where he was looked at by the team’s medical staff and ultimately ruled out of the game.

“It is what it is — it happened and it’s in the past now,” Collaros said. “With my history of head injuries — it’s well-documented – and neck issues that I’ve had, we usually err on the side of precaution. I wasn’t really in a position to fight with him. He is the doctor.”

While Collaros has a history of concussions, most notably during the early part of his 12-year CFL career, he’s also become a bit of a marked man in Riderville. Sunday was the third consecutive year in which Collaros has been dealt an illegal and costly blow while playing in the LDC, each time creating a cloud of controversy that has hung over the CFL days later.

In 2022, the CFL’s resident reject, Garrett Marino, was finally kicked out of the league following a series of bone-headed plays in the LDC, including a late, high hit on Collaros that seemed to be dripping in revenge. That’s because earlier that year, Collaros took exception to and spoke out publicly about Marino’s dangerously low hit on Ottawa Redblacks QB Jeremiah Masoli that ended Masoli’s season and landed Marino a four-game suspension.

Last year, it was Riders DL Pete Robertson, with Robertson inexplicably headbutting Collaros late in a 32-30 overtime loss for Winnipeg. The CFL reviewed the play and suspended Robertson for one game, keeping him out on the Banjo Bowl rematch.

“It is what it is – it happened and it’s in the past now. With my history of head injuries – it’s well-documented – and neck issues that I’ve had, we usually err on the side of precaution.”–Bombers quarterback, Zach Collaros

As for Brown, could he face similar punishment?

It was only a few weeks ago that Brown was under the league spotlight for recklessly rolling into the legs of Ottawa QB Dru Brown, forcing him to exit the game and miss the following week. The CFL has yet to post its list of disciplinary actions from the weekend’s slate of games, but they often take into consideration whether someone is a repeat offender.

“I think there are obvious answers. I just don’t want to sit here and advocate for people losing money,” Collaros said when asked about how the league can help discourage more head shots from happening. “That’s up for the league and (the CFL Player’s Association). Our union is typically in a tough spot, because they have to protect everybody, with pocket books included. So, we’ll see.”

Bombers president and CEO Wade Miller made headlines with his comments to the Free Press after Sunday’s game, pointing the finger directly at CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie and the league’s officials for not doing enough to protect quarterbacks. He made similar pleas the year before after Robertson’s head-butt, so it was no surprise this time around he demanded immediate action.

Head shots, along with head injuries, in the CFL has been a topic of discussion for years. While there have certainly been some improvements in the area, there’s also still plenty of work to be done on addressing the issue.

“I don’t want to see anybody take those hits — anybody. That’s not part of the game. Hits are going to happen; we understand it as players that those things happen. We don’t want them to happen,” Bombers offensive co-ordinator Buck Pierce said. “We’re all professionals. We understand the standard and those things, so you have to adapt. Every position has to adapt. It’s just like any position adapting to rules and standards that are in place, whether it’s a DB, a defensive lineman or receiver or offensive lineman. You got to be able to adapt to those standards.” Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea took a diplomatic approach to questions about the hit on Collaros immediately after the game, clearly understanding that anything he said could come with notable consequences from the CFL.

When asked about it again on Wednesday, O’Shea echoed one of Miller’s biggest points from days earlier. He wished that league officials would exercise a seemingly dormant option by ejecting players who can’t stay within the rules when it comes to dangerous plays such as head shots.

“On a play where an ejection could be warranted, I’d like them to use that tool,” said O’Shea “I’d like them to use it at the first chance they get, and that will be the deterrent you need around the rest of the league. Because coaches will talk about it differently and players will see it differently.”

O’Shea, who has sat on the CFL’s rules committee for years, said there are other plays, beyond head shots, that could also be worthy of an ejection, but added he wasn’t sure “everybody’s on the page to get that done.” As for why in-game ejections are rare, O’Shea said he believed officials were worried about having a too drastic an effect on the outcome of the game.

NO SIGHT OF BIGHILL

Before we get into the bad news, it should be noted that OL Stanley Bryant and Patrick Neufeld were both back practising on Wednesday.

Bryant returned after missing last week due to illness from the previous week, and was limited throughout the workout. As for Neufeld, he was right back working with the No. 1 offence for the first time in more than a month after suffering a knee injury and missing the last four games.

The same can’t be said for linebacker Adam Bighill, who was nowhere to be seen at practice after a scary incident on Sunday. Bighill injured his left leg, in what appears to be a knee injury, late in the game, requiring help off the field.

O’Shea didn’t provide an update other than to say the club will have more answers in a few days.

Sources tell the Free Press the early reports on Bighill are not good and that he is likely to be out long-term, with a good chance he could be done for the year. That’s a significant hit to a defence that has been the lifeline of the Bombers all season.

“Right now, it’s fingers crossed. Biggie is a very tough guy and has come back from a number of tough injuries over the years,” Bombers defensive co-ordinator Jordan Younger said. “We’re praying for him. You can’t replace Adam Bighill. We’re just waiting to hear back from the doctors and get the medical results.”

Jeff.Hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

X: @jeffkhamilton