Zach Collaros is out, and now Dru Brown has to keep the Blue Bombers’ playoff push alive against a reeling Redblacks squad.
This Week’s CFL ScheduleWinnipeg Blue Bombers at Ottawa Redblacks
When
Sunday, July 19 at 7:00 PM ET
Where
TD Place Stadium, Ottawa
TV
TSN
Stream
Watch live on CFL+
Line
Winnipeg Blue Bombers -5 | O/U 55
Winnipeg has won back-to-back games and rides into Ottawa with some real momentum, but the Bombers are doing it with Dru Brown now under center after Zach Collaros went down with a neck injury that’s landed him on six-game injured. Ottawa is the last winless team in the league at 0-5, coming off a 17-40 beatdown at the hands of Edmonton, and this defense has allowed at least 22 points in every game this season. The Redblacks’ offensive line and secondary are banged up enough that even a Bombers team breaking in a new starting quarterback should have a path to cover.
Players to Watch:
Brady Oliveira (Winnipeg Blue Bombers, RB) — He’s questionable with a hip issue but sits fourth in the league with 375 rushing yards, and with Brown adjusting to the huddle, expect Winnipeg to lean hard on the ground game if Oliveira suits up.
Dru Brown (Winnipeg Blue Bombers, QB) — Activated off the reserve roster after Collaros’ season-ending injury, Brown gets his first real test on the road against an Ottawa defense that’s been torched all year.
Keelan White (Ottawa Redblacks, WR) — Back on the active roster after being added from single-game injury, White gives Ottawa’s offense a needed target as they try to avoid 0-6.
Injury Watch:
Zach Collaros (Winnipeg Blue Bombers, QB) — Out, neck injury, now on six-game injured list.
Brady Oliveira (Winnipeg Blue Bombers, RB) — Questionable, hip.
Jeremy Lucien (Ottawa Redblacks, DB) — Out, shoulder, moved to six-game injured.
Nick Mardner (Ottawa Redblacks, WR) — Out, Achilles.
Cleyon Laing (Ottawa Redblacks, DL) — Out, knee, also shifted to six-game injured.
Pick: Winnipeg Blue Bombers 27-17. Ottawa is 0-5 and has been outscored 177-119 on the year, and even with Collaros sidelined, Winnipeg’s defense and run game should be enough to keep the Redblacks winless. Winnipeg’s 2-2-1 against the spread this year, but this is the softest matchup they’ve had in weeks.
CFL Standings
Team
W
L
PF
PA
5
1
167
138
Montreal Alouettes
5
1
208
186
Saskatchewan Roughriders
4
1
170
133
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
3
2
119
122
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
3
3
149
159
2
4
226
214
Toronto Argonauts
2
4
194
207
1
4
140
156
Ottawa Redblacks
0
5
119
177
Quick Hits
Winnipeg activated Dru Brown off the reserve roster and put Zach Collaros on six-game injured after his neck injury, a massive shakeup at quarterback heading into Ottawa.
Ottawa activated Keelan White off single-game injury while also moving Jeremy Lucien, Cleyon Laing, Adrian Frye and Habakkuk Baldonado to six-game injured, gutting an already thin defense.
Fantasy players should still trust Brady Oliveira if he’s active, since Winnipeg is likely to ride the run game with a new quarterback getting his feet wet.
Ottawa hasn’t won since starting the season 0-5, and this is their fourth straight game allowing 27-plus points, a trend that isn’t going away against a Winnipeg team that just found its groove.
Standings | Full Schedule | League Leaders
Who wins this week? Drop your picks in the comments.