Darrell Davis: Riders need to move on without Collaros

Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach Craig Dickenson and general manager Jeremy O’Day have a few weeks before they should tell quarterback Zach Collaros he’s no longer in their plans.

It’s for his own good. It may also help the Roughriders.

Collaros may not want to retire; he said he hasn’t considered retiring despite the injuries he has suffered through his career, which include several concussions. He may have a concussion now, or it may be a neck injury caused by a dirty hit in Saskatchewan’s season opener.

Collaros was placed on the six-game injury list. Although Dickenson won’t confirm the nature of the injury, he told reporters that Collaros is recuperating at home and expecting to meet the Roughriders within a couple of weeks. It makes sense for the Roughriders to leave Collaros on the injury list.

The Roughriders will pay the remainder of Collaros’ salary through this season, but they simply cannot count on him being healthy enough to rely on moving forward.

This has nothing to do with the performance of backup quarterback Cody Fajardo or third-stringer Isaac Harker. It has everything to do with Collaros’ health and the Roughriders’ well-being.