REGINA — It’s turn out to be an important storyline of Gray Cup week and one which the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have completed the whole lot they’ll to suppress.

There was no hiding on Wednesday, when the Bombers took the sphere for his or her first formal apply forward of Sunday’s championship sport and star quarterback Zach Collaros was nowhere to be seen.

Collaros was held out of shape as a part of his rehab for an injured ankle he suffered late within the Western last towards the B.C. Lions. He was tackled awkwardly, his proper ankle shifting methods it shouldn’t, with Collaros unable to return for the Bombers last offensive collection in a one-score sport.

He spoke to reporters afterwards, saying he was wonderful, and when requested by the Free Press if he could be wholesome sufficient to play the Toronto Argonauts in Sunday’s Gray Cup, Collaros had no doubts he’d be prepared. Confidence that Collaros could be good to go by the weekend was definitely current amongst his teammates after Wednesday’s exercise, with a number of of them throwing their help behind the reigning CFL’s most excellent participant.

When requested to broaden on Collaros’ well being standing, all stayed coy, unwilling to offer a lot readability on the scenario.

“He’s in excessive spirits and that’s all I really want to see from him. So long as he’s assured, I’ll be assured,” stated Bombers receiver Nic Demski, who was additionally requested if he felt Collaros could be at 100 per cent come sport time. “You’d need to ask (head coach Mike O’Shea) about that.”

That wasn’t attainable, a minimum of not till Thursday, as O’Shea wasn’t scheduled to speak after apply as a result of he had already confronted reporter’s questions within the annual head coaches press convention earlier within the day. O’Shea did deal with considerations about Collaros’ ankle Tuesday night time, moments after the Bombers aircraft touched down in Regina.

How’s the ankle? “Fairly good,” O’Shea stated, including: “You’re not going to get way more than that.” Collaros wasn’t chosen by the staff as certainly one of two gamers to talk after O’Shea, which looks like much more irregular transfer given Collaros’ absence from apply.

The Bombers are a cautious staff at one of the best of occasions and that stage of paranoia solely intensifies throughout Gray Cup week. As an example, they opted to not apply at Mosaic Stadium Wednesday and as a substitute arrange store at Leibel Discipline — a phenomenal, $11.5-million facility that’s the house of Regina minor soccer — out of concern they might be spied on by their opponent.

Even when this was an try to throw off the Argos, Toronto doesn’t seem like shopping for it. A number of gamers, in addition to head coach Ryan Dinwiddie, have all stated they’re anticipating and game-planning for Collaros to be behind centre.

“He’s an absolute warrior,” stated operating again Andrew Harris, who performed the final 5 seasons in Winnipeg earlier than signing with Toronto as a free agent in February. “I noticed a clip of him strolling off the aircraft. In case you can stroll of the aircraft, you’ll be able to swimsuit up and play the entire sport.”

Within the occasion Collaros can’t play, the Bombers will look to backup Dru Brown. Brown has proven a number of promise in a brief period of time, however the 25-year-old has seen restricted motion over his two seasons in Winnipeg.

This 12 months, Brown has tried simply 33 passes for 452 yards, 5 touchdowns and two interceptions, whereas dashing 19 occasions for 39 yards and three scores. There’s additionally Dakota Prukop, who has been stellar because the short-yardage QB, to assist out.

“Whoever goes to be again there’s what we’re frightened about. I’m not frightened about ifs and butts,” stated offensive lineman Patrick Neufeld. “On gameday, whoever goes to line up behind us, that’s who we’re defending for. That’s actually our focus proper now.”

Jeff.Hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton

Jeff Hamilton
Multimedia producer

After a slew of accidents enjoying hockey that included breaks to the wrist, arm, and collar bone; a tear of the medial collateral ligament in each knees; in addition to a collapsed lung, Jeff figured it was a good suggestion to take his curiosity in sports activities off the ice and in to the classroom.

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