Zach Collaros (ribs) is listed as the starting quarterback, but will be a game-time decision for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Saturday’s Eastern Final against the Montreal Alouettes.
The announcement was made via the team’s depth chart released on Friday morning.
Collaros, 38, was a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice session that was closed to the media before he was unable to practice at all in Thursday’s open session.
“He’s obviously very involved in the plan,” backup QB Dru Brown said of Collaros, adding that the veteran quarterback draws on his experience facing different defensive co-ordinators and players to offer ideas. ”He holds a lot of value in that.”
Collaros missed last week’s East Semifinal, a 25-22 victory over the Toronto Argonauts, due to the injury suffered in Winnipeg’s playoff-clinching 34-10 win over the BC Lions on Oct. 23.
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.
Running back Brady Oliveira (ankle) was also limited in both practice sessions this week, per the team’s official injury report, but is listed as the starter.
The veteran RB and former CFL Most Outstanding Canadian rushed 20 times for 95 yards in the win over Toronto and added one reception for six yards.
Oliveira finished the regular season with 237 rushing attempts for 1,493 yards and seven touchdowns, adding 348 receiving yards and a touchdown through the air.
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.