September 9, 2025<\/a><\/p>\nAnd so, while there are dozens of talking points swirling around the Blue Bombers right now following a two-game losing skid against the arch-rival Riders, from offensive production in the second half, to a horrid turnover differential, the most important by far is whether No. 8 will be behind centre Friday.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s out here today. We\u2019ll see,\u201d said head coach Mike O\u2019Shea. \u201cIt\u2019s one of those things where you check with him every afternoon, you check with him again in the morning to see how they make it through the night.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs humans we should always be concerned as to whether people are OK,\u201d he added when asked of Collaros\u2019 overall health. \u201cI\u2019m always tight-lipped because, personally, I don\u2019t think it\u2019s anybody\u2019s business about Zach\u2019s state right now. It\u2019s going to sound argumentative, but I\u2019m just not a guy that looks at what\u2019s happened before \u2014 I look at each one in everybody\u2019s case. You look at a guy who might do an Achilles and then he had a broken finger\u2026 I don\u2019t look at those two things together.\u201d<\/p>\n
And when it was pointed out that head injuries are different, O\u2019Shea countered with: \u201cNow you\u2019re speculating. Be careful.\u201d<\/p>\n
O\u2019Shea would not confirm whether he expected Collaros to miss time, adding, \u201cWe\u2019ll see. We\u2019ll see as the day goes on.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Like it or not, the speculation has been rampant since Collaros left Saturday\u2019s game \u2014 under his own steam, and also being spotted in the locker room afterward, for what it\u2019s worth \u2014 including from Blue Bombers legend Milt Stegall, now an analyst on the CFL on TSN\u2019s telecast. Saturday night Stegall said, \u201cI\u2019m basing this on that we\u2019re thinking he suffered a concussion. It hasn\u2019t been disclosed what he suffered; I\u2019m basing it on he\u2019s suffering a concussion. Zach Collaros should not step on the field again.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s pretty cavalier to say that,\u201d said O\u2019Shea after practice Tuesday. \u201cNot knowing\u2026 we\u2019re not medical professionals. We don\u2019t have any understanding of that \u2014 I\u2019m saying the media. I would have a better understanding of what\u2019s going on. I think it\u2019s cavalier to say that and it puts undue pressure on a person\u2019s family and their circle.\u201d<\/p>\n
FYI, Wednesday\u2019s practice session is closed to the media, so Blue Bombers fans won\u2019t get an official answer on the status of Collaros until Thursday when the depth chart is released prior to the team departing for Hamilton. O\u2019Shea did say it\u2019s not necessary for Collaros to practice before getting the tap on the shoulder to start if he is green lighted by the medical staff.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know me \u2014 I don\u2019t think vets need a lot of practice,\u201d he said. \u201cBut as of anything, any time a guy gets nicked up we are always going to put the player first.\u201d<\/p>\n
Streveler is 2-0 as a starter this season, helping lead the Blue Bombers to a season-opening win over the B.C. Lions with Collaros serving a one-game suspension and was then at the helm when the club knocked off the Toronto Argonauts at home in early August. His numbers sparkled in his first start, as he completed 15-of-24 for 246 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. In the second, not so much as he went 17-of-21 for 173 yards with three picks.<\/p>\n
Asked after practice Tuesday if he was confident he could lead the team against the Ticats and get them back on track, Streveler didn\u2019t waste a breath with his answer.<\/p>\n
\u201cAbsolutely, man. Absolutely,\u201d he said. \u201cI think the guys in this locker room are confident, too. This is a long season, an 18-game season. And when you have a season this long you need everybody, and people know that coming into the season. So, whenever your number is called, whenever you get that opportunity the thought is you\u2019re going to step up and help the team and do whatever is necessary to get a win.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m just always looking to get better. I\u2019m not going to do a year\u2019s synopsis right now \u2014 we\u2019ve got a lot of meat left on this bone. So, we\u2019ve got to go to work every day. I\u2019ve got to get better and everybody on this team is looking to get better. We\u2019ve got to continue to get better to win football games and that\u2019s what we\u2019re working at.\u201d \u2014 Chris Streveler<\/p>\n
In addition to his two starts this season, Streveler has also been rushed into service in three other games Collaros wasn\u2019t able to finish. Whatever his numbers or how it looks to outsiders, he does have the collective confidence of the men staring back at him in the offensive huddle and in the building.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s awesome. He\u2019s a natural leader and it\u2019s just the energy he brings on a daily basis to practice and he\u2019s proven that he wins games for us when he\u2019s in,\u201d said O\u2019Shea. \u201cI\u2019m not in the huddle with him \u2014 I wish I could be. I imagine it would just give me a little extra juice. It leaks out of him, right? He steps in the huddle and there\u2019s confidence he\u2019s going to lead the offence and execute well but if something were to break down the players understand he\u2019s going to give everything he\u2019s got and someone\u2019s going to pay for it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have so much confidence in him because he\u2019s confident,\u201d added veteran guard Pat Neufeld. \u201cHe\u2019s extremely confident in his abilities, he\u2019s the most optimistic dude I know. The vibes are always high with him and that\u2019s what he brings to the huddle. He loves the game; he loves going out there playing and we all know that\u2019s a guy who is going to go out there and lay it all on the line.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re all going to try to do the same thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
FYI: Deatrick Nichols was also among the list of those who did not practice on Tuesday, with Dexter Lawson, Jr. moving inside to take some reps there and Demerio Houston manning the corner\u2026 Gabe Wallace was back at left guard with the starting offence. He dressed for Saturday\u2019s Banjo Bowl and had some reps, but the spot was manned primarily by Micah Vanterpool.<\/p>\n
ICYMI: Another great chat with veteran dime back Redha Kramdi on the weekly edition of The Huddle. For those who may have missed it live on the Blue Bombers YouTube channel or on \u2018X\u2019, you can watch it here:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n