Latest news with #BradyOliveira
CTV News
3 hours ago
- Sport
- CTV News
B.C. Lions, Winnipeg Blue Bombers both expected to miss stars for rematch
Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Brady Oliveira (20) runs for the first down during first half CFL action against the BC Lions in Winnipeg Thursday, June 12, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods Micah Awe feels like he's unlocked something new in his arsenal — and that could spell trouble for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers this weekend. Midway through a game against the Bombers in Winnipeg last week, the B.C. Lions linebacker started to see everything in front of him differently. The run game simply opened up, he said. 'To be honest, probably for the first time in my eight-year career, I started seeing linebackers kind of like a painting,' explained Awe, who registered 10 tackles in the contest. 'It's kind of like art. You see the art differently (once something clicks).' The switch in perception came from working with Lions defensive coordinator Mike Benevides and playing behind defensive linemen Mathieu Betts and Sione Teuhema, Awe said. 'The difference with this D line, it's the physicality and the violence,' said the 31-year-old Texas Tech product. 'That allows me to play a different way that I don't think people have seen, that I haven't seen myself. Because I'm able to do it now, it kind of unlocks that next level of linebacker for me. 'If I was a Pokemon, this might be, like, the third evolution or something.' B.C. (1-1) dropped a 34-20 decision to Winnipeg (1-0), but Awe and the rest of the Lions will have an opportunity for revenge Saturday when the two sides meet for a rematch in Vancouver. B.C. knows the key to earning a different result this time out is shutting down Winnipeg's potent rush, Awe said. 'If we can't stop the run, they can do whatever they want to do. So, that's going to be our main goal,' he said, adding that all comes down to want. 'Play professional football long enough, you realize, 'OK, all right. This is what I'm supposed to do, but I've still gotta go do it.' Winnipeg's offence will be without a key piece on Saturday after the team officially ruled Brady Oliveira out with a shoulder injury. The 27-year-old running back, who was named both the league's most-outstanding player and most-outstanding Canadian last season, contributed 49 yards on two carries last week before getting hurt. Bombers head coach Mike O'Shea said he isn't concerned about slotting someone else into the running back role. 'We've got lots of ways to move the roster around,' he said. 'We've always been pretty comfortable with everybody in our locker room. The belief is if they're here, they're going to help us win football games this year.' The Lions, too, could miss a prime offensive player for the rematch. Starting quarterback Nathan Rourke picked up a core injury in last week's loss and left in the fourth quarter. He was limited in practice on Tuesday, and did not take the field with his teammates on Wednesday or Thursday, working instead with trainers on the sidelines. B.C. has listed him as 'questionable' for Saturday's game. Veteran QB Jeremiah Masoli is expected to start for the Lions. Every quarterback on B.C.'s roster is ready to play, said Lions head coach Buck Pierce. 'All the guys have now had time under centre. And whether it be, in training camp, whether it be out here each week, I'm a big believer in getting everybody reps. So they've been taking reps, they've been learning,' he said. 'Jeremiah has a lot of experience in this league, and he's seen a lot of things. He's got a great mind for the game. He sees things quickly, he processes information fast. So, I'm confident in whoever we have back there.' The Blue Bombers will also have a different starting quarterback on Saturday as Zach Collaros returns to the lineup after serving a one-game suspension for failing to respond to an off-season drug-testing request. Pierce is uniquely primed to game plan for facing Winnipeg's usual No. 1, having worked with him for several seasons in his previous role as the Bombers' offensive coordinator. '(Collaros is) a hell of a player. I've got a lot of respect for what he's done,' the coach said. 'Obviously, I credit a lot of my success to him and he's dynamic, right? He's dynamic, he's tough, he loves to compete. 'So we're going to have to make sure that we understand his strengths and know how to play against him.' WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS (1-0) AT B.C. LIONS (1-1) B.C. Place, Saturday MR. 200: Collaros enters the game with 199 regular-season touchdown passes across his CFL career. Only 14 players have reached the 200 mark across the league, and Bo Levi Mitchell is the only active player to have hit the milestone. WINNER-PEG: The Bombers have fared well against the Lions in recent years, going 7-2 in matchups between the two sides since 2022. BACK TO BACK: Masoli believes seeing the same team two weeks in a row will be a boon for B.C. 'Obviously we weren't as successful as we wanted to be last game,' he said. 'So, we're just working hard to be able to make sure that turns in our favour this weekend.' This report by Gemma Karstens-Smith The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2025.
Global News
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Global News
No Brady for Blue Bombers for rematch against BC
The CFL's most outstanding player won't be in the lineup for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for Saturday's rematch against the BC Lions. Running back Brady Oliveira has been officially ruled out for the week three matchup with a shoulder injury. Oliveira missed all three practices this week after he left the season-opening victory early in the first quarter. The Bombers opposition could also be without one of their biggest weapons on offence. Lions starting quarterback Nathan Rourke has been listed as questionable with what's being called a core injury. He missed a second straight day of practice on Thursday after leaving last week's game in the fourth quarter. It's looking more and more like Lions backup QB Jeremiah Masoli will get the start instead. He completed seven of his 10 passes for 84 yards with one interception in garbage time against the Bombers defence last week. Story continues below advertisement The Bombers will look to keep him guessing after defensive coordinator Jordan Younger gave a number of new looks on defence in the season opener with middle linebacker Tony Jones even dropping into coverage. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'You never know,' said Jones. 'That's the thing I feel like why we can be such a great defence. You watch the game film and it's just like okay, he's doing this or he's doing that. But then when they play us, it's like OK, he didn't do that. He's doing a different thing. And now they're switching their kinda game plan up of OK, now you're doing this and that's when we switch it again. It's a chess game. 'To give opposing quarterbacks a different look, it might throw them off and make them hold the ball longer where our defensive line can go get a sack.' Bombers receiver Kevens Clercius is also questionable to play. He practiced on Monday but missed the final two practices of the week with a hip problem. Running back Peyton Logan, long snapper Mike Benson, and defensive lineman Jamal Woods will all sit out of the rematch the injuries. Kickoff on Saturday is at 6:00 p.m. in Vancouver.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Bombers coach says no update on star RB Oliveira, Lions rematch coming this weekend
Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Chris Streveler (17) hands off to Brady Oliveira (20) during first half CFL action against the BC Lions in Winnipeg Thursday, June 12, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
CBC
3 days ago
- Sport
- CBC
Bombers' star RB Brady Oliveira still a question mark for rematch with Lions
Social Sharing Brady Oliveira was at the Blue Bombers practice on Monday, but the star running back was an observer rather than a participant. Coach Mike O'Shea had no update on whether the CFL's reigning most outstanding player and top Canadian would play in Saturday's rematch in B.C. against the Lions. "You know me, I'm always hopeful," O'Shea told reporters. Oliveira left the field early with an upper-body injury in last Thursday's season-opening 34-20 victory at home against the Lions. Some reports said he might have suffered a shoulder injury. After Monday's practice, Oliveira was casually throwing footballs with receiver Nic Demski. O'Shea was asked if that was a promising sign. "Tossing footballs and delivering hits are two different things," he said. Oliveira ripped off a 43-yard run during Winnipeg's first series against B.C. Bomber quarterback Chris Streveler then threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Demski in the end zone at 2:29. Oliveira left the field after the score and didn't return. He was replaced by rookie Matthew Peterson, who wowed the crowd with 23 carries for 130 yards, including a 38-yard touchdown. The University of Alberta product, whom the Bombers acquired in a trade with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on draft day this year, said he spoke to Oliveira after the game. "I just said, 'Everything for you,"' Peterson said after Monday's practice. "And he said, 'Good job, buddy."' The Brooks, Alta., native said his professional debut has added to his confidence and he'll be ready if called to action when the 1-0 Bombers face the 1-1 Lions. "Having that big of a game, it helps the confidence that much more," Peterson said. "But the reason why I have so much confidence is because of the five guys in front of me and the quarterback and all the weapons around me." Collaros back There will be a different starting quarterback for Winnipeg in Saturday's game. Zach Collaros had to miss the opener because he was serving a one-game suspension for failing to respond to an off-season drug-testing request. Collaros watched the game from inside Princess Auto Stadium. "I'd be lying to you if I said that it wasn't difficult to watch the game from the locker room," he said. But it was interesting, too. "I was pacing the hallways there and the weight room, walking on the treadmill, so it was cool to watch it on TV," Collaros said. "You could hear the crowd erupting before something good happened, so that was cool to anticipate what would happen, but it was not a fun experience." He did see Oliveira after he exited the game. "Any time you have to come out of a football game like that, it's tough," Collaros said. "Going to get him a Gatorade and a protein bar was pretty much all I could do in that moment, and tell him it's going to be all right." Peterson's performance was "awesome" and his long TD run impressive, Collaros said. "Being able to watch that over and over again on TSN was really cool," he said. "The cut that he made to create some separation in the game there was huge for us, too." While Streveler made some great throws and executed the game plan, Collaros is ready to return to action. "I guess I am excited to get back out there," he said. "It's kind of the whole angst thing, as it is, leading into a new season. "It's been different for me, obviously. We had a bye week and then not playing, so I feel like we've been in camp for a very long time." B.C. quarterback Nathan Rourke left last week's game midway through the fourth quarter with an apparent injury. He told reporters after the game something in his midsection felt off and made it hard for him to put power on his throws.
CBC
13-06-2025
- Sport
- CBC
No Collaros, no Oliveira, no problem, as Blue Bombers handle B.C. Lions in season opener
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers defeated the B.C. Lions 34-20 in their season opener on Thursday without starting quarterback Zach Collaros and star running back Brady Oliveira. Collaros was serving a one-game suspension for failing to respond to an off-season drug-testing request. He was replaced by Chris Streveler, who threw two of his three touchdown passes to Nic Demski. Streveler completed 15 of 24 pass attempts for 246 yards and one interception in front of a sellout of 32,343 at Princess Auto Stadium. Oliveira, the CFL's reigning most outstanding player and top Canadian, went to the locker room after a Winnipeg scoring drive in the first three minutes of the game. The Bombers (1-0) announced he wouldn't return because of an upper-body injury. Rookie Matthew Peterson from Brooks, Alta., took his place, scoring his first career touchdown off a 38-yard run in the second quarter. He ended up with 23 carries for 130 yards. B.C. quarterback Nathan Rourke left the game midway in the fourth quarter after an apparent injury. He was 12 of 27 passing for 249 yards with one TD and one interception. He also ran two yards for a score. Rourke was replaced by Jeremiah Masoli as the Lions fell to 1-1. Keric Wheatfall had Winnipeg's other TD reception, finishing with five catches for 127 yards. Sergio Castillo booted field goals from 49 and 50 yards for Winnipeg, but missed from 47 yards out. He made three of his four convert attempts and the Bombers also picked up a point off a punt single. Keon Hatcher caught a 77-yard TD pass for the Lions and finished with four catches for 150 yards. Sean Whyte hit field goals from 21 and 37 yards and connected on two converts. The Bombers led 10-3 after the first quarter, 18-10 at halftime and 28-20 heading into the fourth. Winnipeg opened the game with a four-play, 80-yard touchdown drive. Oliveira burst out of the gates for a 43-yard gain, the longest carry of his career. Streveler followed up with a 20-yard TD pass to Demski in the end zone at 2:29, marking his 72nd consecutive game with at least one reception. Oliveira went to the locker room after the score. The Bombers boosted their lead after his departure, thanks to a turnover. Defensive back Marquise Bridges intercepted a tipped Rourke pass attempt, leading to Castillo's 49-yarder and a 10-0 lead at 8:39. Rourke, who was pressured by Winnipeg's defence all game, ran for 36 yards to get his team to Winnipeg's 13-yard line but the Lions settled for Whyte's 21-yarder at 10:23. Peterson notched his touchdown at 7:25 of the second quarter and Winnipeg got the punt single four minutes later to go up 18-3. Rourke ran two yards for a score with nine seconds remaining in the half. After Wheatfall's 30-yard TD catch at 7:57 of the third quarter, Hatcher made an over-the-shoulder grab for his 77-yard score. Whyte's 37-yard field goal squeezed the score to 28-20 at 11:28. Demski hauled in a four-yard TD catch in the corner of the end zone at 3:48 of the fourth. Winnipeg got another turnover off a fumbled B.C. kickoff return, but the opportunity ended with Castillo going wide on his field-goal attempt and the ball was run out.
