Collaros ready to start for Riders on Saturday

The concussion discussion was emphatic on Tuesday.

Zach Collaros will start at quarterback for the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday against the visiting Ottawa Redblacks. Period.

Although Collaros missed most of the fourth quarter of the Roughriders’ mostrecent game while going through the CFL’S concussion protocol, he has received a clean bill of health.

“We went through the protocol after the hit and I passed the protocol,” Collaros, who was flattened by a blitzing Jeff Hecht during Saturday’s 32-27 victory over the host Winnipeg Blue Bombers, said Tuesday.

“I woke up the day after the game with no headaches, no symptoms. I woke up yesterday with no headaches and no symptoms, and today as well. We did everything the right way, by the book, and came out with the win so it was good.”

Collaros, who missed 4 1/2 games earlier this season with a concussion and neck issues, made it clear that he was not concussed Saturday. In fact, he had asked to return to the contest.

“There’s rules in place that don’t allow for that, so it’s a good thing for people’s health,” he said.

Although Collaros was rocked by the hit, which forced a fumble, he did not anticipate any problems with passing the protocol.

“I wasn’t really too worried, because I didn’t feel like I had anything really wrong,” he said. “It was a precautionary thing and we went through all the steps. I knew I wasn’t going to have to miss any time.”