Thorax healed, Bombers’ Collaros ready to face Stampeders

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According to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ first practice of the week, quarterback Zach Collaros isn’t just back, he’s ready.

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Collaros came off the injured list to throw a flurry of long balls into the hands of waiting receivers Monday, showing no ill effects from the chest hit that caused him to miss a game and a half.

“For sure,” receiver Nic Demski said. “That’s what he does. Zach coming back, for sure, is a spark. To me, Zach is the best quarterback in this league.”

He wasn’t playing like that when he fell in Calgary.

After losing their first four games, the Bombers ranked last in the CFL in points scored and offensive yards.

Collaros has yet to throw a touchdown pass, after leading the league in major scoring passes the past three seasons.

Backup Chris Streveler scored the team’s first goal in replacement for Collaros in Calgary, then led a run-oriented attack as the Bombers broke through with a 25-16 home win over Ottawa on Friday.

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They rushed for 212 yards against Ottawa, including 79 from Streveler.

But he has completed just 127 passes, while Winnipeg is averaging a league-low 218.6 yards passing.

Collaros said he was close to playing against the Redblacks.

“We just want to be careful with injuries, especially early in the season,” he said. “We made the right decision. We played a very good game, very physical, and it’s important to try to carry the momentum from that game into practice this week.”

Collaros takes two things into account when considering the risk of playing injured.

“Are you doing the right thing for your teammates? If you take one wrong turn in this game, you’re going to be out of the game for a long time. And then there’s the personal side. No matter what the injury is, you want to be healthy for your family in the future.”

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He’s almost certain to get another chance against the Stampeders (2-2) at home on Friday.

“He’s good. He’s ready to play,” head coach Mike O’Shea said. “He seemed to be giving his best, as usual.”

So how’s your chest?

Collaros was reportedly injured in the chest, a part of the body you don’t hear about every day.

“I was waiting for you to ask me what it was,” he told reporters. “And I was going to say it was a thorax — and I’m not entirely sure what it was. I met a person who works in the health care system and she said, ‘I think I’m the only person who knows what a thorax is.’”

“I thought it was a Dr. Seuss book or something. I think I read something like that to my kids.”

Collaros said the hit that brought him down — Calgary defensive lineman Josiah Coatney hit him in the chest with his helmet — was the subject of a phone call between O’Shea and the league.

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“I’m pretty sure they called Osh the next day and said it should have been a penalty,” the quarterback said. “That’s just the way it is.”

O’Shea played down the fallout, presumably not wanting to stir up trouble ahead of the rematch against the Stamps.

“I talk to the league every week,” the coach said. “I’m not going to get into specifics.”

Not bad for wear

Streveler said he woke up Saturday morning feeling “nothing out of the ordinary” after the blows he took in Friday’s game.

“You know what you’re getting into when you play a game,” he said. “Especially that style of play. It was a physical game. We ran the ball a lot. And you always feel a little bit better when you wake up on the other side of a win.”

Streveler’s first start in five years looked a lot like the games he played in 2019, even after three years in the NFL and one out of football.

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“That’s the way I play, man. And I love playing that way. I do whatever it takes to win. That’s never going to change. And the day it does, I’m probably going to have to quit playing.”

LUCKY, MEET LUCKY

Two guys named Lucky on the same team?

“It’s crazy,” newly signed Lucky Whitehead said of moving to defensive end/linebacker Lucky Ogbevoen.

The receiver then shared a conversation he had just had with Ogbevoen.

“He keeps coming up to me and asking, ‘Is your real name Lucky?’ I’m like, ‘Is that your name?’ We got talking and I said, ‘I’m just going to call you L-2.’ ​​He said, ‘Why am I L-2?’ I said, ‘Because I’m 32.’ So I’m L-1. It’s going to be L-2. But it’s funny to have another Luck here. I’m sure people are going to make a lot of jokes about it.”

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Whitehead says his first training session has already resulted in some confusion.

“Actually, during an action, the coach said to me: ‘I’m lucky’… and he answered me: ‘No, not you’. And that’s a first for me.”

For the record, Whitehead’s real name is Rodney.

“People always want to ask questions,” he said. “A lot of my friends like to be funny and call me that when they’re trying to be funny. Personally, I hate it.”

RE-EQUALIZATION OF STAFF

Ogbevoen could be off the training roster this week.

There’s room for him, as the Bombers released defensive lineman Ali Fayad on Monday.

Fayad made his first start against Ottawa, but did not record any stats.

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