HAMILTON — While trade rumours continue to link Zach Collaros and the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Chris Jones and Kent Austin remain tight-lipped on any potential deal between the Riders and Ticats.

The two executives responded to trade talks brought to light on Wednesday by 3 Down Nation‘s Justin Dunk. Dunk’s report linked both the Riders and Argos to the Ticats’ pivot, who has been demoted to backup ahead of Monday’s Labour Day Classic in Hamilton.

On Thursday, Jones, asked about the rumours by reporters in Regina, confirmed that talks had occurred but wouldn’t go much further.

“The report was very premature,” said the Riders’ head coach and GM. “Were there conversations? Yeah, they called, you know, and we spoke. That’s about the extent of it.”

Austin, meanwhile, confirmed that talks have occurred, but offered a conflicting account of what happened. The Ticats’ vice-president of football operations denied that the Ticats are shopping Collaros or that they reached out to the Riders.

“Not true,” said Austin when asked whether Collaros is being shopped. “When teams approach us about our players, and I think you can understand when you’re in the situation we’re in — we’ve certainly been on the other end of this equation in our past as well — it’s not unusual for teams to come after your best players to see if there’s any interest in moving them.

“Zach’s an outstanding quarterback and we certainly understand the interest.”

The Riders’ quarterback depth chart is already crowded, with Kevin Glenn entrenched as the starter and recently-acquired Vernon Adams behind him. Still, Collaros going to the Riders would make sense for both sides.

Glenn, 38, is a solid stop-gap for the Riders but the team’s search for a long-term option has been well-documented and Collaros could fit the bill. The Ticats, meanwhile, could be open to moving No. 4 following his demotion this week. Collaros is rumoured to be carrying a hefty price tag for the remainder of the season and into next.

On Thursday, Austin wouldn’t rule out trading his franchise quarterback — although the odds of that happening this season, he said, are highly unlikely.

“I’m not going to say never to anything,” said Austin. “I would say that’s highly unlikely. We’re going to evaluate every single position, every move, everything we can to get our team better — whatever that looks like.

“He’s an outstanding quarterback and we’re not anxious to move somebody of that level of talent.”

The Ticats are 0-8 this season and have lost 12 straight outings with Collaros under centre. Still, it’s impossible to ignore the 29-year-old’s talent level, his past success and his potential for greatness — keeping in mind that two years ago at this time, Collaros was the leading candidate to win Most Outstanding Player.

For now, the book on Collaros is to be continued. He’ll head into Labour Day as the backup quarterback for the first time since arriving in Hamilton in 2014, as incoming head coach June Jones rolls with Jeremiah Masoli against the Argos.