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Nick Iwanyshyn \/ The Canadian Press<\/p>\n
Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros (right) is on the injury report with a neck issue and is listed as questionable for Friday\u2019s date with the visiting Toronto Argonauts. <\/p>\n
Collaros is on the injury report with a neck issue and is listed as questionable for Friday\u2019s date with the visiting Toronto Argonauts (2-2).<\/p>\n
He did not participate in the team\u2019s return to work on Wednesday for a closed practice, a detail that wasn\u2019t revealed until the injury report was released less than an hour after the day\u2019s media availability concluded.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe looked good today,\u201d said O\u2019Shea with a grin, in what has become one of his trademark responses when pressed for details.<\/p>\n
Looking good is not something the Bombers have done at Princess Auto Stadium so far this season. The Blue and Gold haven\u2019t started a campaign 0-3 on their home field since 2016, and they\u2019ll match that unwanted mark if they can\u2019t get past the Argos.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s something that doesn\u2019t sit well with defensive end Willie Jefferson.<\/p>\n
In his first six seasons in Winnipeg, the club went 44-8 on its turf.<\/p>\n
Before and after Wednesday\u2019s practice, the future Hall of Fame pass rusher addressed the team\u2019s early struggles on Chancellor Matheson Road with his teammates, making it clear they can\u2019t allow it to become the norm.<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry you guys weren\u2019t there to hear it, but it is what it is,\u201d Jefferson told reporters in the locker room.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is what we do, especially at home \u2014 we win when we\u2019re at home. It just so happened two tough games, two tough losses at home at the beginning of the season, but this is our time to flip it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Technically, however, the Bombers will be the \u201croad\u201d team this week.<\/p>\n
Because of the FIFA World Cup, the Argos are playing three designated \u201chome\u201d games at their opponents\u2019 stadiums, and this is one of them.<\/p>\n
Unlike a typical away affair, there\u2019ll be no need to pack a bag, board a charter flight and settle in at a hotel the night before.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been a while since Jefferson, who grew up in Beaumont, Texas, has been able to simply drive down the road to, well, play a road game.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I was in (high school), Beaumont Ozen vs. Beaumont Central \u2014 literally one school is 10 minutes north, the other school is 10 minutes south, so, I\u2019ve done it before,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I understand with FIFA and the World Cup, Toronto doesn\u2019t have a home stadium. What better place to come than Princess Auto with 30,000-plus? I understand they might not get that on the regular.\u201d<\/p>\n
If Collaros can\u2019t go, at least the Bombers can take solace in the strides their defence made in Hamilton.<\/p>\n
Yes, Tiger-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell suffered a serious ankle injury in the third quarter, but Winnipeg frustrated the legendary passer in the red zone before his exit, forcing Hamilton to settle for a pair of second-quarter field goals. The Bombers also finally showed signs of life against the run, holding the Ticats to 61 rushing yards after allowing an average of 154.3 through their first three games.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know about a big step, but we took a step in the right direction,\u201d said Jefferson.<\/p>\n
One of the biggest bright spots was rookie cornerback Major Williams, who was targeted a whopping 10 times but allowed just three receptions. He intercepted Ticats backup Tre Ford with just over three minutes remaining, giving Brady Oliveira and the offence a chance to set up Sergio Castillo for the game-winning field goal.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were trying him all game, and I thought he really kept his composure \u2014 even when things weren\u2019t going well and when things were going well,\u201d said Oliveira.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really liked that about him, it\u2019s just, a next play mentality. I just felt like it was only a matter of time\u2026 I just had a feeling that eventually he\u2019d come down with him.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can ask him, I called it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The defence will look to build on that performance against an Argos offence that has moved the ball with ease this season behind quarterback Chad Kelly.<\/p>\n
Kelly is averaging 371 passing yards and three touchdown passes per game.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey score a lot of points. Any time you\u2019re facing Chad Kelly, the guy has a rocket, he\u2019s a great player,\u201d said defensive lineman Jake Ceresna, who won a Grey Cup with the Boatmen in 2024.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was his teammate, so I know how he prepares and how he attacks defences. It\u2019s going to be a big challenge for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whether it\u2019s Collaros, Dru Brown or Taylor Elgersma under centre, the Bombers should be licking their chops at the thought of facing Toronto\u2019s defence. The Argos have allowed a league-high 384 passing yards per game and were picked apart by the Calgary Stampeders in a 58-36 loss last Thursday.<\/p>\n
Stamps quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. threw for 405 yards and six touchdowns.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re gonna go watch that tape, learn from their mistakes and hopefully correct them,\u201d said Oliveira.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m expecting a much sharper defence from Toronto and I think it\u2019s going to be a battle.\u201d<\/p>\n
winnipegfreepress.com\/taylorallen<\/p>\n
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Taylor Allen Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree\/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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