Both teams will have their starting quarterbacks back on the field when the Calgary Stampeders host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Saturday night.
Vernon Adams Jr. returns from a head injury for the Stampeders (5-3) while two-time CFL Most Outstanding Player Zach Collaros has put a neck injury behind him for the Blue Bombers (4-3).
Collaros has endured a tough season with more interceptions (eight) than touchdown passes (seven) while throwing for 1,031 yards. The Blue Bombers are last in the CFL in turnovers (25) and turnover ratio (minus-10).
“It starts with me as the quarterback and making sure that I’m putting the ball in the right location, that my decision-making is good enough so I’m not putting the ball in harm’s way and we lock into the details so we can be on the same page and be on time,” Collaros told reporters.
Winnipeg coach Mike O’Shea wasn’t in the mood for any criticisms of Collaros, who was game MVP when the Blue Bombers won the 2021 Grey Cup.
“I don’t know that we’re not just living, we’ve been thriving with Zach Collaros for a long time,” O’Shea told reporters. “You make it sound like we’re putting up with something here. We’re putting up with greatness, if that’s what you want to talk about.”
With Collaros out, Chris Streveler threw three interceptions and passed for 173 yards as Winnipeg notched a 40-31 home win over the Toronto Argonauts last week.
For the Stampeders, P.J. Walker made his first CFL start with Adams out and threw three interceptions. He also passed for 273 yards and one touchdown but the miscues were glaring in a 31-11 road loss to the Ottawa Redblacks.
Adams has passed for 1,913 yards, nine touchdowns and six interceptions for Calgary. He did not like having to be a spectator against Ottawa.
“It’s very tough, you know?” Adams told reporters. “You’re a competitor. You want to be out there helping out the team and doing what you can do.”
Stampeders coach Dave Dickenson has watched Adams closely this week.
“He looks and sounds like basically himself,” Dickenson told reporters. “So all positives.”
Calgary is 2-0 against the Blue Bombers this season.
The host Stampeders prevailed 37-16 in Week 5 when Adams passed for two touchdowns. Collaros had one touchdown but also was intercepted twice with defensive back Damon Webb (30 yards) and linebacker Derrick Moncrief (70 yards) returning the picks for touchdowns.
Two weeks later, Calgary sailed to a 41-20 road victory over Winnipeg. Adams had three touchdowns and one interception. Collaros was pulled at halftime due to injuring his neck, and he and Streveler each threw one touchdown pass and two interceptions.
–Field Level Media
