New addition to Collaros family reason for QB missing practice

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This article was published 16/11/2021 (1420 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Zach Collaros’ absence from Tuesday’s practice was only a mystery for a short time.

Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea revealed his star quarterback’s attention was with his wife who had given birth to the couple’s second child. No further details were offered.

“The baby’s doing well and his exact words were his ‘wife’s a champion,’ ” said O’Shea. “So, there you go.”

Collaros and his wife, Nicole, welcomed their first child, Sierra Callia, into their family back in April of 2020. How the most recent addition would affect Collaros’ playing status for Winnipeg’s final regular-season in Calgary Saturday was uncertain.

O’Shea was asked if he expected Collaros, who was rested for Saturday’s Week 15 matchup with the Montreal Alouettes, to play against the Stampeders.

“I’m not sure,” said O’Shea. “I told him to look after his family. So we’ll see. This is pretty important stuff, obviously. So he’ll make the best decision for him and his family and then we’ll figure it out from there.”

ROSTER SHUFFLE: Collaros wasn’t the only regular sidelined in Week 15.

In all, O’Shea rested nine starters including defensive backs Deatrick Nichols, Nick Taylor and Brandon Alexander, defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat, defensive lineman Steven Richardson; offensive linemen Stanley Bryant and Patrick Neufeld and returner Janarion Grant.

Grant, Alexander, Taylor, Richardson, Bryant and Neufeld were all back on the practice field Tuesday.

With first place in the West Division already sewn up, O’Shea was asked how he’ll make the decision about whom to rest Saturday in Calgary.

“We stick pretty rigidly to the daily process, right?” said O’Shea. “So I don’t think that changes and then the roster is kind of like a separate entity… I know you think that it’s completely paired but it’s not.

“You go about your practise. Guys get reps… maybe some guys get a few more reps if we’re thinking about changing the roster but you pretty well stay true to what you’ve been doing. And you have your roster discussions and you move forward from there.”

TAKING HIS LUMPS: By any measure, Sean McGuire’s first start in the CFL was an experience he would rather forget.

The 25-year-old quarterback completed only 11 of 26 passes for 149 yards and one touchdown while getting picked off four times in a 28-14 loss to the Alouettes.

“It’s combination of things,” explained McGuire. “I mean, (there were) a couple of bad decisions. Not making throws that I should be making (and) that I’m capable of making. No excuses at all.”

McGuire, who could be in line for additional playing time this week, was grateful for the backing of his teammates.

“I personally went up to a bunch of them and I mean I just wanted them to know I appreciate them and the fight that we had entire game…,” said McGuire. “We just have good, high character guys. Guys I’m very close with and I can lean on… It sucked in the moment and just being able to be around a bunch of guys that continue to support you meant a lot.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @sawa14