Dru Brown leads practice with Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Zach Collaros non-participant

Photo: Samantha Keen/3DownNation. All rights reserved.

Dru Brown led practice with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Monday, while veteran quarterback Zach Collaros watched from the sidelines.

According to the team’s official injury report, Collaros is dealing with a head injury. Star running back Brady Oliveira (ankle) and receiver Nic Demski (ankle) were also non-participants.

Head coach Mike O’Shea told the media after practice that he’s hopeful all three players will be available to play this week.

“This is par for the course in pro football, there’s guys sitting out all the time,” he said. “Sometimes guys can’t practice, and I don’t know if that has a bearing on whether they play or not, especially with the vets.”

Collaros left the team’s recent win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Banjo Bowl after throwing an interception to Seyi Oladipo Jr. late in the third quarter.

The 38-year-old chased down the defender from behind and attempted to make the tackle along the sideline, when he appeared to land on his head and neck.

The six-foot-one, 218-pound passer did not return to the game and head coach Mike O’Shea did not provide an update on his status when he spoke to the media later that day.

“If Zach can’t go, there’s guys that’ll step up and honour his work,” said O’Shea. “If he can go, he’s Zach.”

Brown has gone 2-2 as a starter this season, completing 70.2 percent of his passes for 1,148 yards, five touchdowns, and five interceptions.

The five-foot-eleven, 200-pound passer was acquired from the Ottawa Redblacks in a trade in June. He went 12-13-1 over two seasons as a starter in the nation’s capital, completing 68.8 percent of his passes for 6,348 yards, 32 touchdowns, and 20 interceptions.

The 29-year-old native of Palo Alto, Calif. spent his first three CFL seasons as a backup in Winnipeg. He threw for 1,484 yards, 14 touchdowns, and two interceptions, and rushed 37 times for 113 yards with five scores in limited action.

Collaros has gone 5-4 as a starter this season, completing 70.6 percent of his passes for 2,204 yards, 11 touchdowns, and six interceptions.

Over 181 career regular-season CFL games, the native of Steubenville, Ohio has completed 68.1 percent of his passes for 38,187 yards, 227 touchdowns, and 123 interceptions, and rushed 274 times for 1,506 yards and 11 scores.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers (7-6) will host the Toronto Argonauts (8-6) on Friday, September 25 with kickoff scheduled for 8:00 p.m. EDT. The Blue Bombers were on bye last week, while the Argonauts upset the Edmonton Elks by a score of 24-19.

The game will be broadcast on TSN and RDS in Canada, CBS Sports Network in the United States, and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune-in on TSN 1050 in Toronto or 680 CJOB in Winnipeg.