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Published Aug 05, 2025 • 3 minute read
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Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea. Photo by Kevin King /Winnipeg SunArticle content
It’s hard to imagine a coach more staunchly loyal to his players than Mike O’Shea.
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The latest example came on Tuesday, when the Blue Bombers boss was asked if quarterback Zach Collaros’ confident, gunslinger mentality and the interceptions that have come with it this season are something his team just has to live with.
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“We’re not just living, we’ve been thriving with Zach Collaros for a long time,” O’Shea said. “You make it sound like we’re putting up with something here. We’re putting up with greatness.”
Collaros returned to practice this week after missing the last six quarters with what’s listed as a neck injury and is expected to start in Calgary on Saturday.
The 36-year-old has thrown two interceptions in four of the five games he’s started this season, including two lopsided losses to the Stampeders.
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O’Shea says there’s no need to talk to his quarterback about being more careful with the ball and balancing his decisions to throw it downfield.
“He’s as smart as they come. There’s not a lot of conversation like that.”
Seeing Biggie in red
Former Bombers linebacker Adam Bighill is in full practice mode with the Stampeders this week, raising the possibility his first game with Calgary will be against his old team on Saturday.
Collaros knows what that would mean from his days with Toronto, Hamilton and Saskatchewan.
“It’s not fun,” the quarterback said of facing Bighill. “He’s so smart. Calgary in general does a really good job of spacing the football field, too. They’re really smart about the way they do it. So he’d be able to slide right in there and probably take it to another level, because he’s so damn smart. So it’d be tough.
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“And when he hits you, it’s not fun.”
Bighill signed with the Stamps a month ago, sharing his knowledge of his old team from the sideline in two previous meetings, both decisive Calgary wins.
This time, he could put that knowledge into practice.
“It’d be interesting,” receiver Nic Demski said. “A lot of football played against him, just on practice days, of course. Obviously on game day it’s a different type of vibe. We’ll see what happens. He probably knows a bit about us. But we do a lot of film study and we’ll be okay.”
A knee injury ended Bighill’s 2024 season early, the Bombers discarding him in the off-season despite a resume that cements his status as one of the all-time great CFL linebackers.
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He helped Winnipeg win back-to-back Grey Cups and reach the last five.
“I know he wants to end things his way, and not let an injury be the end to his career,” Demski said. “For a guy with that skill level and what he’s done in this league and what he means to this league, it’d be great to see him get back out there and finish on his terms.”
Debuts on deck
With defensive back Jamal Parker hobbled, the recently-signed Dexter Lawson could see game action in a hurry.
Lawson, cut after training camp but brought back last week, looks like a good bet to step in at corner in Calgary on Saturday. The 25-year-old played 13 games with Hamilton over the last two years.
On the other side of the ball, receiver Dillon Mitchell could make his Bombers debut this weekend.
“If he gets his opportunity, I think he’s going to do a great job,” Collaros said. “I was happy when we signed him in the off-season. He’s played at a high level for a long time in our league. Experience definitely matters, and not having that deer-in-the-headlights look is an important thing.”
Mitchell, 28, caught 130 passes for 1,896 and 12 touchdowns in three seasons with Edmonton. Winnipeg signed him as a free agent.
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