The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will start the newly-acquired Dru Brown at quarterback for their Week 6 contest against the Toronto Argonauts, the team announced on its depth chart on Thursday.
Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said “there’s a chance” that Zach Collaros could suit up for this game when addressing the media following practice on Wednesday, but the injury report ultimately ruled him out.
The Blue Bombers moved significant assets to acquire Brown from the Ottawa Redblacks in June, sending a first-round draft pick in next year’s draft and a second-round conditional draft pick in the 2028 draft in exchange for Brown and a second-round pick in 2027.
Brown will now get his first start when the Argonauts come to Winnipeg, filling in for Collaros, who suffered an upper-body injury in the team’s 14-13 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday.
Brown, 29, spent the first three seasons of his CFL career with the Blue Bombers before joining the Redblacks in 2024. After starting the past two seasons in Ottawa, Brown became disgruntled and requested a trade out of the nation’s capital when the team brought in Jake Maier this past offseason and subsequently named him the Week 1 starter.
The veteran of six CFL seasons gets a chance to return to the starting lineup now, with Collaros out with an injury.
Brown threw for 2,389 yards in 11 games last season, with 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Rookie quarterback and USports alum Taylor Elgersma, who came in for Collaros on Sunday and led the Blue Bombers to the victory, will serve as the backup for this game against Toronto.
The Blue Bombers enter Friday’s game sitting at 2-2, tied for third in the West Division behind the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Edmonton Elks, who sit at 3-1.
