The Winnipeg Blue Bombers opened their final practice of the week on Thursday with injured quarterback Zach Collaros not dressed to participate, according to team reporter Ed Tait.
Collaros was listed as a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice session that was closed to the media.
The 38-year-old Collaros missed last week’s East Semifinal, a 25-22 victory over the Toronto Argonauts, due to a rib injury suffered in Winnipeg’s playoff-clinching 34-10 win over the BC Lions on Oct. 23.
Dru Brown replaced Collaros and went 11-of-11 passing for 185 yards and two TDs as the Bombers outscored the Lions 24-0 in the fourth quarter of that game.
Against the Argonauts last week, Brown threw for 206 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Brown hit Nic Demski on a 23-yard TD pass with 44 seconds remaining, then found Demski for the two-point conversion in the come-from-behind victory.
Winnipeg didn’t confirm Brown would start the East Semifinal until releasing its depth chart the day before the game. The expectation is the same will happen this week.
Winnipeg will face a rested Montreal squad that hasn’t played since a 33-16 road win over Toronto on Oct. 23. Quarterback Davis Alexander’s last start was a 44-24 win over Saskatchewan on Oct. 12, a game where he threw for 403 yards with five TDs and an interception while rushing three times for 40 yards.