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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 Monday, October 11, 2010.The Canadian Press

The B.C. Lions' defence just get a lot tougher to play against.

Import linebacker Solomon Elimimian officially returned to the Canadian Football League team Thursday after agreeing to a contract. According to league rules, the Lions have five days to decide on Elimimian's playing status. He will not dress Saturday against the visiting Toronto Argonauts.

Elimimian had signed in the off-season with the NFL Minnesota Vikings and was recently released by the Cleveland Browns. While debating his future, he returned to Vancouver and waited for any further NFL offers. When none came, he opted to rejoin the Lions.

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

Elimimian, 25, played the last two seasons for the Lions.He won the league's Most Outstanding Rookie Award in 2010 after recording 77 tackles and five sacks.

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