Pair of QBs to vie to replace Bombers injured signal-caller Streveler

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This article was published 11/09/2024 (380 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It turns out Chris Streveler’s injury was as bad as it looked.

The Bombers quarterback confirmed what many were already thinking when earlier this week he posted on his Instagram account the extent of his injuries. Streveler wrote three of the four major ligaments in his left knee were torn, the result of a low tackle from Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive lineman Miles Brown during Saturday’s Banjo Bowl.

While Streveler didn’t outright say it, his season is effectively over. As for his future, the 29-year-old has vowed to come back stronger than ever, and there’s no reason whatsoever, given his relentless work ethic and positive attitude, to doubt he will.

Still, it’s devastating news for someone who brings a lot more to the team than this on-field play. Streveler is truly one of the good guys in the CFL, and I’ve never met someone who cares more about their teammates or the game.

While Streveler plans to rehab in Winnipeg and support his teammates as they prepare for another stab at the Grey Cup, the Bombers only have two healthy quarterbacks in veteran starter Zach Collaros and rookie Terry Wilson. Understanding Streveler could be in for a lengthy recovery, the Bombers started working the phones before his injury became public.

The Bombers have brought in two arms, with Jake Dolegala and Bryan Scott expected to be in Winnipeg sometime this week. Both were on active rosters this season — Dolegala with B.C.; Scott with Toronto — but were released with the signing of Nathan Rourke and the return of Chad Kelly from suspension, respectively.

With the Bombers on a bye week, offensive co-ordinator Buck Pierce will get the chance to evaluate both players before making any decisions or signing any contracts. I’m hearing there’s a good chance both could stick around, although it’s likely one would have to accept a spot on the practice roster, assuming they plan to hold onto Wilson as the No. 3 option.

Dolegala and Scott are intriguing players in their own right, and both are capable of running short-yardage packages.

Dolegala has more playing experience, having started 10 games, including nine with the Riders last season, when he led Saskatchewan to victories over the Bombers and Lions — the top two teams in the West Division at the time.

Meanwhile, Scott was with the Argos since the start of the 2023 campaign. This season, the 29-year-old was limited to five passes, completin each one, for 79 yards and one touchdown.

If all goes to plan, it will be a healthy dose of Collaros for the remainder of the year. There are at least some experienced options to look to in the event Collaros gets injured.

With that, let’s dive into the other top stories around the league in the latest edition of CFL Rundown.

1) Indeed, it was the same Miles Brown who sidelined Zach Collaros in the Labour Day Classic a week earlier — who delivered the hit on Streveler, wrapping his arms around the quarterback’s legs low enough to draw a roughing-the-passer penalty on the play. While an illegal move, it’s hard to make the argument the tackle was dirty. Brown was already falling towards Streveler, who still had the ball in his hand when Brown made contact. On film he doesn’t appear to wrench any part of Streveler’s leg. That said, Brown has now knocked out three quarterbacks this year, and so any benefit of the doubt he had is now gone as a repeat offender.

2) It’s been a rough ride for the Roughriders, who extended their winless streak to seven games with a second loss to the Bombers in as many weeks. It’s been an interesting exercise tuning into the post-game show on 980 CJME in Regina the last few weeks, as frustrated fans are demanding wholesale changes, including dumping first-year head coach Corey Mace and veteran QB Trevor Harris. I get the angst, especially at this time of the year, given Saskatchewan hasn’t won a game past the Labour Day weekend in an eye-popping two years. Harris gives the Riders the best chance to win now. As for Mace, first-year growing pains are inevitable; Winnipeg’s Mike O’Shea went 12-24 his first two seasons before setting a new franchise mark for most regular-season wins in club history, with 103, this past week. Anyone who has been around the Riders knows the culture has changed. Where Mace might need help is running the defence, as he’s also the Riders DC. He needs to have a better hold on in-game calls, like timeouts and challenges, which is hard to do when you’re doing two things at once.

3) I’m relieved I can stop asking Mike O’Shea about passing the legendary Bud Grant for most wins in Bombers history. I felt like he wanted to take a run at me whenever I broached the topic. That’s because, as I wrote in a feature on O’Shea hitting the milestone, there’s nothing the Bombers coach hates more than talking about himself. I’ve had the opportunity to cover O’Shea for a majority of his time in Winnipeg and I got the same treatment trying to write about his call to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame back in 2017. While he begrudgingly sat down with me for an interview, he also went out of his way to tell his closest friends not to speak with me. That actually backfired on some, as they only wanted to talk to me more after that.

4) A new week and another new low for the Calgary Stampeders, who were throttled by the Edmonton Elks for a second consecutive game, dropping to 4-8 on the year. The Stamps have now lost four in a row to fall to last place in the West Division. GM/HC Dave Dickenson tried a bold move benching Jake Maier for second-year QB Logan Bonnner. Dickenson has been visibly frustrated with Maier’s play for some time and clearly his four-interception performance on Labour Day was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I wonder how Dickenson was feeling watching Bonner toss five picks against the Elks in the rematch, without throwing for a single TD. Maier is back working with the No. 1 offence, so he should get the chance to redeem himself in a tough matchup at home against the Montreal Alouettes. He’s running out of opportunities to prove he can be a true No. 1, which hasn’t happened since the Stamps opted to go with Maier over Bo Levi Mitchell following the 2022 season.

5) It feels weird to say out loud and somehow even more odd to write, but could it be the end of the road for Dickenson in Calgary? Dickenson has been on the club’s staff since retiring in 2008, transitioning from player to the team’s running backs coach. After years as the OC, Dickenson took over as head coach in 2016. In his first season, he led the Stamps to a franchise record for most points in a season with a mark of 15-2-1, making it to the first of three consecutive Grey Cups before eventually winning in 2018. It’s been four straight losses in the West semifinals since, including squeaking into the playoffs last year with a dismal 6-12 record. It’s also no coincidence the Stamps recent nosedive coincides with the retirement of John Hufnagel and the promotion of Dickenson to GM before the 2023 campaign. The way Dickenson has looked after games this season, he might be the one who ends up searching for a change of scenery.

6) As for the Elks, that’s victories in five of their last six games, pushing them ahead of Calgary by one game and behind Saskatchewan by a single point for the third and final playoff spot in the West. Earning a playoff spot seemed nearly impossible after the Elks opened the season 0-7, but with the way they’ve been playing, a post-season berth now almost feels inevitable. I also like how head coach Jarious Jackson wasted little time appointing Tre Ford as the starter when they return from the bye week to play Winnipeg. Ford was playing lights out since throwing three fourth-quarter touchdowns in the loss to Hamilton in Week 8, before suffering a rib injury in a win over B.C. a couple weeks later. While McLeod Bethel-Thompson has played well, Ford is the future and present and gives the Elks the best chance to win. It will also be cool to see Ford play against his twin brother, Tyrell, who is having a heck of a year in Winnipeg, currently tied for the most interceptions in the CFL, with six.

7) I can’t imagine the Argos thought it would take this long for Chad Kelly to return to form as the reigning Most Outstanding Player after being suspended the first nine games. Kelly has started the last three games and hasn’t looked at all dangerous, with four passing TDs compared to six interceptions. While he threw for 463 yards and three touchdowns in a loss to the Redblacks last weekend, close to half of that yardage occurred in the fourth quarter with the Argos trailing by four TDs. Kelly also threw four interceptions against Ottawa, two of which were returned for scores. Kelly is still the best option over Cameron Dukes, but any chance of catching the Redblacks for second in the East is quickly evaporating.

8) I’ve seen league pundits write about the current front-runners for the league’s MOP and I’m amazed and troubled by the lack of a spotlight on Redblacks QB Dru Brown. Brown has dealt with a couple injuries, but has played a terrific season in the nation’s capital. Brown arrived in Ottawa after the Redblacks had back-to-back seasons of 4-14 — dead last in the East both years — and turned them into a contender at 8-3-1. He has 11 TDs compared to five interceptions and a QB rating of 98.4. There’s still plenty of football to be played, but Brown certainly belongs in the conversation.

Jeff.Hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

X: @jeffkhamilton