Montreal head coach Jason Maas says the Alouettes will be ready at Percival Molson Stadium for Saturday’s East Division final regardless of whether Winnipeg starts Zach Collaros or Dru Brown at quarterback.
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The Montreal Alouettes are preparing for Saturday’s East Division final at Percival Molson Stadium with Winnipeg’s quarterback situation still unsettled, and head coach Jason Maas says Montreal will not be affected by who is under centre.
Winnipeg lists Zach Collaros atop its quarterback depth chart in Friday’s roster release, but he remained a game-time decision after suffering a rib injury late in the season. Collaros sat atop the podium as the “starting quarterback” expectation at a pre-game press conference, but Dru Brown ultimately joined him on the stage.
Collaros has been limited since his injury, including being limited during a closed practice Wednesday and then sitting out Thursday’s session for what he described as a “maintenance kind of thing.” After being injured in Winnipeg’s 34-10 win over the B.C. Lions on Oct. 23, the 38-year-old said he would like to play and will take the opportunity if it is offered.
Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said he has until 30 minutes before kickoff to make a decision. O’Shea also said the team’s approach is to give a veteran player, “every opportunity to play until he says he can’t.”
Winnipeg quarterback uncertainty did not appear to change Montreal’s preparation, according to defensive lineman Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund. The 30-year-old from Dartmouth, N.S., said the team does not focus on the outside noise and noted Brown’s role in Winnipeg’s recent playoff win over Toronto.
In last week’s East Division semifinal, Brown led Winnipeg to a 25-22 comeback victory over the Toronto Argonauts, connecting with Nic Demski for a 23-yard touchdown with 44 seconds remaining. Brown threw two interceptions in the game, but still directed the late rally as Winnipeg advanced.
O’Shea’s decision leaves Montreal facing two possible offensive looks, but the Alouettes are also coming in with strong form and season-long production. Montreal led the CFL standings at 14-4, including an undefeated 9-0 record at home, and most sportsbooks had the Alouettes listed as 8.5-point favourites.
The Alouettes’ offensive leaders included quarterback Davis Alexander and receiver Tyson Philpot, who won the league’s outstanding player and outstanding Canadian awards, respectively, after an offence that topped the CFL in yardage. On defence, Montreal allowed the second-fewest points per game at 25.4.
Winnipeg finished 9-9, scoring the third-fewest points in the league at 26.5 while allowing the fifth-most at 27.3. Star Canadian running back Brady Oliveira suggested the Bombers are playing with house money and said the pressure is on Montreal, a stance Alexander was prepared to accept.
In response to the idea of pressure, Alexander said Montreal has been the favourite in every game this season besides one in B.C., adding, “If that's what pressure is, we will take on pressure.” Maas echoed that message, saying, “Our expectation is to go out and win,” and that the Alouettes expect a “dogfight.”
The matchup also includes recent history at Percival Molson Stadium. In 2024, Montreal clinched an early bye to the division final but lost to visiting Toronto after committing six turnovers. Montreal also suffered its first loss of the regular season in 2024 when Collaros threw for 324 yards and two touchdowns in a 44-28 home win over the Alouettes on Aug. 28, before Montreal responded with a 37-10 rout at Percival Molson Stadium on Oct. 3 with Brown completing 11 of 16 passes for 161 yards and a touchdown.
Whatever the decision at quarterback, Maas said Montreal is focused on playing “Montreal Alouettes football” in a game he expects to be decided by performance rather than the identity of Winnipeg’s starter.
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