‘Zach is a warrior’

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This article was published 14/11/2022 (771 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

REGINA — Everyone knew what the first question was going to be.

Everyone also knew Mike O’Shea wasn’t going to reveal a darn thing.

Shortly after the Winnipeg Blue Bombers landed in Regina Tuesday evening on their chartered airplane, marking the official kickoff to Grey Cup week, the head coach was asked anyway.

What’s the status of Zach Collaros’s ankle?

“Pretty good. You’re not going to get more than that from me,” said O’Shea with a grin. “It’s that time of year.”

Whether the starting quarterback for the Blue Bombers is fully healthy, or seriously injured and in danger of missing Sunday’s Grey Cup at Mosaic Stadium against the Toronto Argonauts, O’Shea isn’t going to tell you either way.

“Probably not,” O’Shea admitted.

For what it’s worth, Collaros — who didn’t finish the West Division final last Sunday against the B.C. Lions after injuring his ankle late in the game — walked off the plane and grabbed his luggage without a noticeable limp. But the Bombers did not make him available to the media on Tuesday, as linebacker Adam Bighill and receiver Greg Ellingson took turns standing behind the podium instead.

At least Ellingson had the quote of the day when asked about Collaros.

“I mean, I saw him walk off the plane. Let’s put it this way, I think Russell Wilson would be jealous of the workout I saw on that plane,” Ellingson said.

Ellingson was referencing a recent story about Wilson, the quarterback of the Denver Broncos, who was battling a hamstring injury heading into the team’s game in London, England against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Oct. 30. Wilson was, reportedly, stretching and doing high knees up and down the aisle during the nine-hour flight overseas while his teammates tried to sleep.

The Bombers can make jokes and play all the games they want, but the Argos aren’t having any of it. The Boatmen fully expect to see Collaros show up on Sunday and play the way he always does.

“Yeah, he’s gonna play. I know he will. He’s darn tough,” said Argos head coach Ryan Dinwiddie.

“We know he’s gonna play. Now, will he be as mobile as he’s been all year? I don’t know. I anticipate that he will be playing and that’s the way it’ll go. It’s unfortunate that he got hurt, but I’m pretty sure he’ll be playing.”

Argos defensive lineman Ja’Gared Davis knows exactly how tough Collaros is and what he can do on the big stage. Davis lost the last two Grey Cups to Collaros and the Bombers as a member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Davis, who suited up for the Calgary Stampeders between 2016-2018 and signed with Toronto this past off-season, has made the Grey Cup in all six of his CFL seasons.

“Man, Zach is a warrior. Regardless of how he may or may not feel, great players find a way to get the job done in the most crucial moments. So, I expect Zach will be Zach,” said Davis.

“I expect Zach will be nothing less than the man he’s always been in his career and in his legacy. The person he’s been on and off the field is what’s made him great and given him and this team opportunities to be back-to-back Grey Cup champions and an opportunity to be here today, for this week, for this upcoming game. Everybody at this time of year has some kind of nicks, knacks and bruises that they’re dealing with.”

Making the safe assumption Collaros will play, Sunday will feature two quarterbacks going up against their former clubs. Collaros had two stints in Toronto, most recently in 2019 when the Saskatchewan Roughriders dealt him there two months into the season. A few weeks later, Collaros was traded again, this time to Winnipeg, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Argos quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson doesn’t have nearly as much history with the team he’ll face on Sunday, but he did spend a month with the Bombers back in 2016. The following year, Bethel-Thompson attended minicamp with the New York Jets before signing with the Argos and winning the Grey Cup as Ricky Ray’s backup.

Sunday will mark the first time the five-year CFL vet and two-time East Division all-star has started the championship game.

“I remember I wasn’t prepared for the CFL… I was still caught up with the NFL. I just left (Philadelphia) Eagles camp and I thought there was more football for me to play down there,” Bethel-Thompson said.

“(But) Mike O’Shea is a fantastic football coach… I got to know Buck (Pierce). Andrew (Harris) not so much at the time as he was focused on playing, but I was in the quarterback room with Matt (Nichols), Kevin (Glenn) and all those guys. You could see how well run that organization was and it starts with Mike O’Shea. He’s just a fantastic leader of men.”

Despite his short stay, Bethel-Thomspon saw some signs the Bombers were close to rounding the corner and being a contender. Fast forward to today, Bethel-Thompson is in a position to spoil a Winnipeg dynasty and stop the Bombers from capturing their third straight Grey Cup.

“Yeah, it’d be awesome. The whole reason to play football at this time is to play against the best. The last three years, they’ve been the best team in this league. It’d be sweet, and that’s why we’re here,” said Bethel-Thompson.

“We want to play the best players on the biggest stage at their best and beat them. And that’s what we feel like we’re ready for.”

CFL unveils 2022 all-star team, six Bombers make the cut

Six members of the Blue Bombers were named to the CFL’s 2022 all-star team early Tuesday.

Collaros, receiver Dalton Schoen, left tackle Stanley Bryant, guard Patrick Neufeld, defensive back Deatrick Nichols, and kick returner Janarion Grant were all named to the squad.

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31