It says something about Zach Collaros’ overall body of work as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers starting quarterback that his 2024 season has been viewed by many as an ‘off’ year.
Just to revisit that, let’s begin with where the narrative originates — with a TD-to-interception ratio of 17:15 last season as his passing touchdown total was cut almost in half from 33 in 2023 and an interception number that was the same as the year previous at 15.
Yet, there’s also this: in this so-called ‘off’ year he also threw for a career high 4,336 passing yards, helped lead his team to another first place finish in the West Division and a fifth straight Grey Cup appearance. And, yes, we all know now what happened in that championship game in the fourth quarter after an injury to his throwing hand led to a collapse as a potential title slipped away.
Still, we’re talking about a franchise legend here, even if the current three-game Grey Cup losing skid continues to sting like an open wound.
We bring this all up as the lead-in to the final chapter of our Blue Bombers Positional Preview series focussing on the quarterbacks and, naturally, leading with Collaros.
Now 36 — Saskatchewan’s Trevor Harris, McLeod Bethel-Thompson of Montreal and Jeremiah Masoli in B.C. are all older, by the way — Collaros is clearly still getting it done for the Blue Bombers. The club is a remarkable 57-18, including playoffs, in his starts and his 49 regular season wins ranks only behind Ken Ploen (82) and Dieter Brock (71) in franchise history.
He’s fourth in Blue Bombers history in TD passes with 109 and fifth in yardage at 16,177. If he throws for 2,000 yards this season, he’ll move past Kevin Glenn into third spot.
Admittedly, that’s a ton of numbers to throw at fans here but it’s part of an attempt to reinforce his place in franchise history and his importance this season — a year in which the juiciest Blue Bombers storyline would be to advance to a sixth consecutive Grey Cup and win it at home this November.
Let’s also remember this: for as much as he struggled in the Grey Cup loss to Toronto after his hand injury, in the Western Final win over Saskatchewan a week earlier he threw for 301 yards and four touchdowns.
Now, one of the talking points in this town — perhaps every football town across all leagues — is always what is in the QB bullpen both for the here and now and with respect to long-term planning. That’s especially so when the starter is 36 and in the fourth quarter of his career. Collaros’ contract runs through this year and how long he continues will be a decision ultimately based on health and production.
Against that backdrop, the rest of the Blue Bombers QB depth chart features Chris Streveler, returning after a season-ending knee injury in the Banjo Bowl last September, Terry Wilson, Shea Patterson — who comes over from the Saskatchewan Roughriders — and two newcomers, one high-profile Canadian in Taylor Elgersma, selected in the second round of the 2025 CFL Draft and Chase Artopoeus, added the same day veteran Jake Dolegala was released.
A healthy Streveler gives the Blue Bombers their short-yardage specialist — he has 32 TDs in 46 games — and a veteran presence who won his lone start last season and could still be an option in a variety of offensive sets that weren’t really explored last year as the club struggled to find its way after a 2-6 start and then his injury. Wilson earned a roster spot after an impressive training camp and preseason last year.
Patterson, meanwhile, was an interesting addition in free agency to an already-crowded QB room. Just 28, he started six games a year ago for the Riders when Harris was injured, with the club going 2-4 — including a win over Winnipeg last July. A product of both Michigan and Ole Miss who was also drafted by the Texas Rangers, Patterson has an intriguing skillset, throwing for 1,655 yards and six scores last year while rushing for seven TDs.
The QB narrative got a whole lot more interesting on CFL Draft night in late April with the addition of Elgersma — the Hec Crighton winner as the top player in U-Sports football after a sensational season at Wilfrid Laurier. A 6-6, 235-pound with a howitzer for an arm who is attending rookie mini-camps with the Green Bay Packers and Buffalo Bills and has drawn a ton of NFL interest after attending the Senior Bowl — the first QB from a Canadian university to earn an invitation.
Make no mistake, though, about the obvious here: this is still Zach Collaros’ team. As he goes, so go the 2025 Blue Bombers.
POSITIONAL PREVIEW ’25
Quarterbacks
Chris Streveler
The Returnees:
Starters: Zach Collaros
Returning vets: Chris Streveler, Terry Wilson
2025 CFL Draft: Taylor Elgersma* (rd 2, 18th overall)
Newcomers/CFL vets: Shea Patterson (Saskatchewan), Chase Artopoeus
Departed: Jake Dolegala (released)
Keep an eye on:
#17, Chris Streveler
What happens with Patterson, Wilson and Dolegala in camp will be fascinating when veterans report on May 10th as the jockeying behind Collaros begins in earnest.
The situation with Streveler is just as interesting. The Blue Bombers know what they have in the 30-year-old vet as a bulldozing QB with a linebacker’s body and a defensive tackle’s mentality. What we don’t know fully yet is how new offensive coordinator Jason Hogan might take his unique skillset and implement it in the offence, either with him behind centre or as an option with Collaros on the field.
The potential there still feels unexplored.
Also, to read up further on Elgersma after the draft, check this out:
Did you know?
Including his days with Toronto, Hamilton, Saskatchewan, and Winnipeg, Collaros has a career QB efficiency rating of 100.9 – third highest in CFL history behind Dave Dickenson (110.2) and Trevor Harris (103.0).
Notable Number:
Collaros has thrown for 109 TDs against 50 interceptions as a Blue Bomber, for a +59 differential. That pushes him past Dieter Brock (+58) into top spot in TD:interception differential among Blue Bombers QBs in franchise history.
