Dru Brown will lead the Blue Bombers into action against his old squad in Ottawa on Sunday; photos by Smart Rosales
OTTAWA — Dru Brown calls his return to Ottawa — delivered with a nonchalant shrug of the shoulders — as simply ‘an opportunity to play football.’
No argument on that.
Yet, sportswriters and sportscasters — hell, screenplay authors who might see some potential in this juicy storyline — would build on his somewhat bland summation with this: it’s an opportunity to play football all right… and an opportunity for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback to really stick it to the club that punted him to the curb less than a month ago.
Just don’t expect him to say anything to potentially feed into that narrative on the eve of Sunday’s matchup with the RedBlacks here in the nation’s capital.
“It’s definitely been kind of a whirlwind but I’m excited to be with the Bombers and excited to get the chance to compete tomorrow,” Brown told media upon his arrival at the team’s hotel here in Ottawa late Saturday afternoon. “Any chance I get to play football, that’s what I love to do.
“It’s Ottawa this week, which is exciting. I know a bunch of guys over there. But I had practice in this when I would come back and play Winnipeg (as a former Blue Bomber). So, I’ve kind of gotten used to it. It’s a small league and things like this happen.
“I’m just excited to go out and compete.”
That’s long been Brown’s M.O. — no peaks or valleys. Eyes ahead. Focus on what is ahead and not what is in the rear-view mirror.
Still, here are the RedBlacks at 0-5 after committing to Jake Maier over Brown and then trading him to Winnipeg… where he promptly led his old team to a victory last week over the Toronto Argonauts by completing 81 percent of his passes for 339 yards and one TD against an interception.
So, whether he fuels this narrative or not, it still writes itself.
“I try not to allow myself to think of it like that,” said Brown of returning to Ottawa. “Probably after the game I’ll be able let all those things come in and feel the feelings and stuff like that. I just try to do my job and prepare — I’ve still got time to prepare — so, I’ll just go through my normal routine, go out there and hope for the best.”
BLUE BOMBERS (3-2) at REDBLACKS (0-5)
Kickoff: Sunday, 6 p.m. CDT; T.D. Place Stadium, Ottawa
TV/Streaming: TSN; RDS2; CBS SportsNetwork CFL+
Radio: 680 CJOB; Play-by-play: Derek Taylor | analyst: Doug Brown;
Streaks: Wpg.: 2W; Ott.: 5L
Asked to what led to the ‘breakdown’ in Ottawa — how he went from starting here the last two years to being traded before taking a snap in 2026 — Brown, again, wasn’t about to throw any shade at RedBlacks’ management.
“I don’t really necessarily think it was a breakdown, if I’m being honest,” he said. “I just think that I wasn’t maybe what they wanted, and that’s OK. I’ve said that before. I don’t have any feelings towards it. Things like this happen.
“I’m grateful for my time here in Ottawa but also extremely grateful to be back with Winnipeg.”
One final attempt to build on the storyline came late in Brown’s media session. He was asked by Lisa Wallace of The Canadian Press if he had any added fire to make the RedBlacks second-guess their decision and Brown offered a smile.
“I mean… I hate to do this to you, but to me I just get the chance to go out there and have fun and fly around and do my best and compete,” he said. “It’s Ottawa this week, it was Toronto last week. I don’t even know who we have after this, to be honest with you.
“Any chance I get to go out there and play, I’m not necessarily out to prove anyone wrong. To me, the game is too complex and too hard to have emotional attachment to these games. You have to look at them practically in what you need to do in every moment to give yourself the best chance to win.”
COMMANDMENT #1: PROTECT THY PIGSKIN
A somewhat startling number given the Blue Bombers 3-2 record and modest two-game winning streak: Winnipeg’s -4 turnover differential is second worst in the league to Ottawa’s -9.
And let’s dive into this a little bit further…
The Blue Bombers have yet to play a game this season where they were on the plus side of the turnover differential, posting an even in the win over Calgary and in Hamilton, with -1s vs. Hamilton and Edmonton and a -2 in last week’s victory over Toronto.
That’s a number that simply needs to change if this team is going to make a run in the final two-thirds of the season and into the playoffs.
Zach Collaros (5), Taylor Elgersma (1) and Dru Brown (1) have combined to throw seven touchdowns against four interceptions — that’s a decent number — but half of those picks, one by Collaros, the other by Brown, were thrown into the opposition end zone. On top of that, Winnipeg has a league high nine fumbles — five of them lost — and all it all up and it’s hardly surprising the offence currently ranks last in points at 22.0.
“That’s something that has continuously come out of my mouth and I know everyone else has spoken about it — we need to score more touchdowns,” said veteran receiver Nic Demski. “Field goals are great and all, and driving the field is great and all as well. But, A, we need to take care of the ball on the offensive side of the field and, B, we need to finish with six instead of three.”
COMMANDMENT #2: TAKETH THY PIGSKIN AWAY
Let’s roll with the turnover angle for another chunk here…
The numbers above wouldn’t stand out so negatively if the Blue Bombers were forcing more turnovers of their own. Winnipeg has forced a league-low four turnovers in five games — three fumbles and just one interception — and that’s clearly something that must change if this defence is going to become elite.
Winnipeg entered the week with 10 sacks, tied for second-most in the CFL and just one behind Saskatchewan — and so they are generating pressure up front. There are also four veteran starters in the secondary in Jonathan Moxey, Deatrick Nichols, Evan Holm and Redha Kramdi.
The picks will come, but ASAP would be a massive change for a group that certainly has had some opportunities in the last few weeks.
“We’ve just got to catch them,” said Kramdi with a chuckle when asked how to generate more opposition mistakes. “Not to laugh about Deatrick and Holmie, but when we got an opportunity, we need to catch it. That’s pretty much it.
“I know people talk about us playing match (defence) and it’s harder (to get interceptions) but we’ve had a lot of opportunities, and we just need to capitalize.”
“The moments come,” said defensive coordinator Jordan Younger earlier in the week. “I can’t tell you how to feel in the moment. And each moment is new. Sometimes it’s an easy catch to make and you just take it for granted, you’re looking past it.
“There’s probably off the top of my head four or five easy drops. That puts you in the top half of the pack and we’re not having this conversation. Just catch the ball.”
THE ‘OTHER’ QB STORY
RedBlacks QB Jake Maier; photo courtesy The Canadian Press
It’s an interesting collection of quarterback names, all of them connected in one way: they’ve all started games for the RedBlacks since the club let Trevor Harris exit via free agency in 2016.
And look at this bunch:
-Dru Brown (10-13-1)
-Dustin Crum (5-15)
-Nick Arbuckle (3-7)
-Dominique Davis (3-8)
-Caleb Evans (3-10)
-Tyrie Adams (1-2)
-Matt Nichols (1-3)
-Jeremiah Masoli (1-7)
-Matthew Shiltz (0-1)
-Duck Hodges (0-1)
-Will Arndt (0-3)
-Jake Maier (0-5)
-Jonathan Jennings (0-6)
Add that all up and it’s an abysmal 27-81-1 record. It also brings further into focus the decision to move on from Brown, given his record is by far best amongst this crew.
The RedBlacks will roll again with Maier this week but veteran McLeod Bethel-Thompson, recently added after Brown was traded, is a Dinwiddie favourite and he could be called from the bullpen if Ottawa’s offence struggles.
THE LINEUP: The Blue Bombers have made two roster changes for Sunday’s game in the capital, adding DE Kydran Jenkins and Canadian LB Charles-Elliott Bouliane while moving DT Cam Lawson to the six-game injured list and LB Dylan Hazen to the practice roster.
Also of note, QB Zach Collaros was moved from the one-game injured list to the six-game.
Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea: “I don’t anticipate for him to be out that long. The way you handle your business this year is you pretty well put everybody on the six-game (injured list).”
The injury to Lawson means the Blue Bombers will go with an all-American defensive front with Willie Jefferson and David Reese at the ends and Jake Ceresna and Michael Fletcher in the middle. Jenkins, along with Canadians Collin Kornelson and Nuer Gatkuoth are on the roster for added depth.
The six-game injured list now features Collaros and Lawson, DBs Cam Allen and Ethan Ball, linebackers Brody Clark, Lane Novak, Jaiden Woodbey and Jovan Santos-Knox, defensive linemen De’Shaan Dixon and Tanner Schmekel, offensive lineman Micah Vanterpool and receiver Kevens Clercius.
