Brown to Start Against Former Team
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have confirmed that Dru Brown will make his second consecutive start at quarterback this Sunday in Ottawa. This decision was made official after speculation throughout the week. Brown will face the team that traded him to Manitoba 24 days prior to the upcoming game.
Brown’s previous start for the Blue Bombers resulted in a victory over the Toronto Argonauts. During that game, he completed 25 of 31 passes for 339 yards, including one touchdown and one interception. This performance came as he filled in for Zach Collaros, who sustained a neck injury on July 5 against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. In that earlier game, Taylor Elgersma had taken over at quarterback to secure the win.
Head coach Mike O’Shea confirmed on Friday that Collaros did not participate in practice and would not be available for Sunday’s game. When asked about Collaros’s absence, O’Shea commented on the difficulty for an individual to miss out on an activity they enjoy.
Anticipation for Brown’s Return to Ottawa
The storyline of Dru Brown returning to Ottawa to play against his former team is generating considerable interest. While Brown and coach O’Shea downplayed the narrative earlier in the week, the anticipation is expected to grow leading up to the game.
O’Shea expressed confidence in Brown’s ability to handle the pressure and increased attention, noting his high emotional intelligence. Brown originally signed with the Blue Bombers in 2020 and made his debut with the team in 2021. He was with the RedBlacks for the 2024-25 seasons.
During the offseason, Ryan Dinwiddie took over as general manager and head coach for Ottawa. After one preseason game, Dinwiddie named Jake Maier as the RedBlacks’ starting quarterback. Following this decision, Brown requested his release, which ultimately led to his trade to the Blue Bombers.
Ottawa has had a challenging start to the season with an 0-5 record. In contrast, Brown led the Blue Bombers to a victory in his first start since rejoining the team. Dinwiddie acknowledged Brown’s potential motivation for the upcoming game, stating that Brown likely has a strong desire to perform well, especially in this particular matchup.
Dinwiddie also mentioned that the RedBlacks had initially wanted to retain Brown, but the situation did not work out, leading to his move to Winnipeg and the acquisition of McLeod Bethel-Thompson as a veteran backup. The RedBlacks coach affirmed their continued belief in Jake Maier.
The Blue Bombers, in turn, have shown their confidence in Brown. He currently holds a 3-1 record in his four career starts for Winnipeg, including three games where he surpassed 300 passing yards. Receiver Nic Demski indicated that the entire team is supportive of Brown having a strong performance against his former club, citing the personal relationships and respect for his dedication.
The Blue Bombers will release their official depth chart on Saturday morning. The game against the Ottawa RedBlacks is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, at TD Place, with kickoff at 7:00 p.m. ET.
Injury Report and Team Records
The injury report for Friday officially lists Collaros as out due to his neck injury. Both Nic Demski and running back Brady Oliveira are listed as questionable for the upcoming game. The team’s social media accounts and website will provide further updates following Saturday’s media availability.
In other team news, Trey Vaval’s performance last week set a new Blue Bombers record for combined kick return yardage. He accumulated 332 yards, which included six punt returns for 79 yards, three kickoffs for 101 yards, and two missed field goal returns for 152 yards. This total also featured a new franchise record 129-yard missed field goal return.
Vaval’s 332 combined kick-return yards surpassed the previous Blue Bombers records set by Eric Blount in 1998 with 322 yards and Albert Johnson III in 2000 with 321 yards. This 332-yard total is also the ninth-best in CFL history.
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Source: bluebombers.com
