Sports

Photo: The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

B.C. Lions' Solomon Elimimian (56) gestures to the crowd after they booed a late hit on Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Brock Ralph (80) during the first half of their CFL game in Winnipeg, October 11, 2010. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

Solomon Elimimian is back with the B.C. Lions.

The middle linebacker rejoined the CFL club Thursday after failing to catch on with an NFL team. Elimimian signed with the Minnesota Vikings in the off-season but was released during training camp.

He was later added to the Cleveland Browns' practice roster before being let go.

Elimimian will now complete the option year of his CFL contract with B.C., which has until early next week to decide on Elimimian's playing status. The Lions did say Elimimian won't attend practice Friday or be in uniform when they host the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday.

"We're pleased to have Solomon back, but our immediate focus as a team right now is the game against the Toronto Argonauts," GM Wally Buono said in a statement. "We have asked Solomon to join us on the sidelines Saturday and we will make him available to the media prior to the game."

Elimimian was named the CFL's hardest hitter last year in a poll of the league's players.