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CBC
4 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.
National Post
04-06-2025
- Business
- National Post
New CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston plans to be very visible at start of regular season
Article content The CFL's most decorated player last season was also a Canadian. Brady Oliveira of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers was not only the league's top Canadian for a second straight year but also it's outstanding player. The five-foot-11, 222-pound running back earned a second straight CFL rushing title with 1,353 yards with his hometown team while topping the league in yards from scrimmage (1,829) for a second consecutive season. Article content Also enjoying a standout '24 campaign was B.C. receiver Justin McInnis. The six-foot-five, 210-pound native of Pierrefonds, Que., led the league in receiving yards (1,469) with 92 catches and seven TDs. Article content And in 2025, there'll be four Canadian-born head coaches for the first time, led by Winnipeg's Mike O'Shea, of North Bay, Ont. O'Shea, entering his 11th season with the Blue Bombers is the league's longest-tenured head coach. Article content Winnipeg native Bob Dyce is heading into his third full season as Ottawa's head coach while Corey Mace, of Port Moody, B.C., is in his second CFL campaign with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Kilam, of Lethbridge, Alta., is the other. Article content Article content 'There are more Canadian stars in the CFL,' Johnston said. 'There's more Canadians playing in the NFL, there's more Canadian talent coming at us through the NCAA and U Sports. Article content 'You've got this incredible Canadian representation at a star level across football and certainly in the CFL and that's being reflected in the wave of patriotism and interest in all things Canadiana. It's a perfect time for those influences to mesh.' Article content Veteran receiver Eugene Lewis begins the season with a new team (Ottawa) but looks to continue his record quest. Lewis registered TD grabs in Edmonton's final eight regular-season games in 2024, leaving him two short of Terry Evanshen's league mark of 10 consecutive contests. Article content Winnipeg chases a sixth straight Grey Cup appearance with definite purpose, as this year's game will be held at Princess Auto Stadium. The Bombers will have an opening-week bye but will be without veteran starter Zach Collaros when they host B.C. on June 12. Article content Article content Article content Article content
