Winnipeg Blue Bombers Quarter Back returns after devastating Injury
Standout quarterback Zach Collaros will return to action Friday night when the host Winnipeg Blue Bombers aim to avenge a recent loss to the Calgary Stampeders.
Calgary recorded a 22-19 overtime victory over the Blue Bombers on June 29 in a contest that Collaros left after sustaining a thorax injury. Stampeders defensive tackle Josiah Coatney leveled Collaros with a wicked helmet shot to the chest in the second quarter.
Collaros missed Winnipeg’s 25-16 home victory over the Ottawa Redblacks on July 5 when backup Chris Streveler guided the Blue Bombers (1-4) to their first victory of the season.
Reigning CFL rushing champion Brady Oliveira had his biggest outing of the season with 129 yards. After a slow start, he has 257 yards in four games.
Now Oliveira is forecasting that Collaros will emerge from his slow start. The two-time CFL Most Outstanding Player has yet to throw a touchdown pass while being intercepted four times. He has 796 passing yards.
“This is the week he’s really going to show what he’s all about,” Oliveira said of Collaros. “We’ve seen it time and time again the last couple of seasons of who he is and what he does best so I’m just really excited to have him back out there with us.”
Calgary (2-2) is coming off a disappointing 30-26 road loss to the Montreal Alouettes. The Stampeders led by 11 entering the fourth quarter before Montreal scored 15 unanswered points.
A unit that ranks last in total defense (396 yards per game) combined with an offense that couldn’t click in the clutch to sabotage Calgary’s chances of winning.
“I think when you look back at the film of that game and just how it all played out, I feel like we played three quarters and a few minutes into the fourth quarter of really good football,” Stampeders quarterback Jake Maier said. “My disappointment in that game was really the fourth quarter and not sustaining drives and that we couldn’t get the momentum back.
“But we immediately moved on and we’re ready for the next game.”
Maier passed for just 106 yards in the loss. He has 936 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions this season.
The Stampeders ruled out running back B.J. Emmons (hamstring), receiver Rysen John (hamstring), offensive lineman Kyle Saxelid (knee) and linebacker Darius Williams (calf).
Defensive end TyJuan Garbutt (ankle) and free safety Noah Hallett (hip) will sit out for Winnipeg.
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