Redblacks begin quest for bounce-back season, host Bombers

The host Ottawa Redblacks will begin their season against the short-handed Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Thursday night.

The Redblacks, idle in Week 1, finished last in the East Division with a 4-14 record last season.

Quarterback Dru Brown makes his Ottawa debut against his former team, having spent the previous three seasons as Zach Collaros' backup with the Blue Bombers. In spot duty last year, Brown went 2-0 and completed 62 of 89 passes for 983 yards with nine touchdowns and zero interceptions.

The Redblacks traded a fifth-round draft pick to Winnipeg for Brown's negotiating rights and later signed the former Oklahoma State signal-caller to a two-year contract.

"I don't want to say this is a lot more fun ... but it's a lot more fun," Brown told the Ottawa Citizen during the offseason regarding his role as QB1. "I'm taking a lot of reps (here). That's playing football ... and I love playing football."

The Redblacks also brought back veteran receiver Dominique Rhymes, who played for Ottawa from 2017-19 before spending the past three seasons with the BC Lions.

The Blue Bombers (0-1) kicked off the campaign with a 27-12 loss to the Montreal Alouettes last Thursday in a 2023 Grey Cup rematch. Mistakes doomed Winnipeg, including an interception by Collaros, fumbles by wide receiver Nic Demski and punt returner Myron Mitchell and two missed field goals by Sergio Castillo.

Collaros finished 20-of-33 passing for 209 yards.

"It obviously wasn't up to our standard," Collaros said, per Sportsnet. "Not good enough. Disappointing, frustrating, all those things, especially (because we) did not play well in front of the home crowd. I certainly wish I played better. ... I have to do a heck of a lot better for us and we'll improve."

Winnipeg also sustained two key injuries in the season-opening setback. Running back Brady Oliveira, last season's Most Outstanding Canadian, will miss the game at Ottawa with a knee injury, while wide receiver Kenny Lawler was placed on the six-game injured list with a fractured arm.

Johnny Augustine will replace Oliveira in the starting lineup, and Keric Wheatfall came off the practice squad to fill Lawler's spot.

--Field Level Media