Collaros hid preseason injury from Riders staff

The struggling Riders offence is getting a bit of a boost.

Quarterback Zach Collaros was taken off the six-game injured list a few weeks earlier than expected, after being sidelined with a concussion in the second week of the season.

It was widely believed Collaros suffered the concussion in that Week 2 game against the Redblacks, but the quarterback admitted Monday that he had been injured during the preseason.

“(The concussion) was really a carryover of something that happened prior and something that I should have talked to the training staff about in the preseason — something that I sustained in that game and I kept it a secret,” Collaros told reporters after his first practice back on Monday.

He admits that decision was a mistake, especially given he ended up having to miss significant time.

“In a new setting, a new situation as the new guy, I just wanted to be out there with my teammates and probably pushed it a little bit too much and paid for it there,” Collaros explained.

Collaros has passed all the hurdles now, which is why the Roughriders activated him. He will be eligible to play in Thursday’s game against the Edmonton Eskimos, though head coach Chris Jones would not say if he will be the starter in that game.

Fortunately, he hasn’t been out of the loop that entire time. Collaros was in meetings throughout his time on the injured list and was up in the booth with the offensive coaches during each of the home games he missed.

Collaros said he was excited to get on the field with his teammates, but he’s nobody’s saviour.

“A saviour? No,” Collaros laughed. “I’m just another piece of the puzzle.”

A piece of the puzzle that — according to offensive coordinator Stephen McAdoo — will give him a few more options for offensive play calling, which he was criticized for during Saturday’s game against the Calgary Stampeders.

“The (offensive) philosophy wouldn’t change with Zach in there. He just has some things that he’s a little more comfortable doing that maybe the other guys aren’t.”

Roughriders practice is closed to the public and the media on Tuesday morning.

The team will fly to Edmonton Wednesday for Thursday night’s game. Kick off is at 8 p.m.