RIDERS CHILLING OUT
Receivers K.D. Cannon and Kyran Moore were in a playful mood during Wednesday’s practice. The Riders meet the Bombers on Sunday in the Western semifinal.
There is a difference of opinion in the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ camp when it comes to quarterback Zach Collaros being deemed ready to play in Sunday ’s CFL West Division semifinal against the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Collaros left no doubt about his status Wednesday while meeting with reporters for the first time since absorbing a hit to the head during the Riders’ 35-16 victory over the visiting B.C. Lions on Oct. 27. He missed the final threequarters of Saskatchewan’s regular-season finale after the hit by Lions defensive end Odell Willis.
But will Collaros be ready to go Sunday?
“Yes,’’ he responded.
Chris Jones, the Riders’ head coach and general manager, wasn’t as quick to name Collaros as the starter against the Blue Bombers.
“We’re going to take it day-byday,” Jones said. “We’ll let you guys know later in the week if he will be ready to go or not.”
The signs point to Collaros being ready. He was on the field with the Riders on Wednesday, when he worked regularly with the firstteam offence. That’s usually an indication of who will start.
Jones, however, wants to see how Collaros handles the pressure of practice before committing to publicly naming his starting quarterback.
“He passed all of the (concussion protocols) days ago,” Jones said. “This is to make sure that there isn’t any repercussions from that. It’s day-to-day. If everything looks good and it looks like he can practise and play at a high level, then he will play.”
Collaros has had a history of concussions. He missed four weeks this season while dealing with a concussion and neck issues. Because of what happened in the past, Jones wants to be prepared in case something happens to Collaros.
“We want to make sure that everyone is prepared,” Jones said. “(Backup quarterback) Brandon Bridge had been in this situation numerous times last year with Kevin Glenn and he ended up having to start one game last year and four this year. We looked at the statistics and Brandon has to be ready and (we have to) expect the worst.”
The Riders added insurance at the quarterback position with Saturday’s signing of Drew Tate, a 34-year-old veteran who has previously seen CFL duty with Saskatchewan (2007-08), the Calgary Stampeders (2009-16) and Ottawa Redblacks (2017).
Tate’s last game action was in 2017 with the Redblacks. He announced his retirement as a player in the spring to focus on being a defensive assistant coach with the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers.
The Riders contacted Tate after Collaros was injured and arrangements were made for a return to the field.
Tate, however, isn’t looking beyond the short term with the Riders.
“I’m just looking at it as a playoff run and winning a Grey Cup,” Tate said.
Tate and Collaros didn’t know each other until they ended up on the same flight from Toronto to Regina after the bye week. The quarterbacks had an opportunity to get to know each other during the flight.
“He was the window and I was on the aisle,” Tate said with a laugh. “I had played with (Trevor Harris in Ottawa) last year and he said good things about him. He’s a good guy.”
Collaros, 30, was also impressed by Tate.
“He has been great,” Collaros said. “He’s a smart guy who was in this league for a long time. It’s nice to bounce ideas off him and speak about what he’s doing down south and those kind of things.”
The conditions, meanwhile, were cold Wednesday as the Riders prepared for the Blue Bombers. The Riders didn’t let the bitter conditions slow them down.
“This is why you play,” Jones said. “This is why you coach — to compete in these situations. I’ve been here a lot of times before and this is when you want to be playing.
“That’s what I told them (on the field) a little while ago: ‘This is when you know you’ve done some good things. You put yourself in this position to be in the cold to play.’ “