B.C. Lions say standout linebacker Solomon Elimimian ‘100 per cent healthy’

SURREY, B.C. – The B.C. Lions say linebacker Solomon Elimimian has fully recovered from the Achilles tendon injury that ended his 2015 season.

The CFL’s most outstanding player two years ago, Elimimian ruptured the ligament in a game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in August.

Lions head coach and general manager Wally Buono met the media after the CFL club’s off-season workout on Thursday and said Elimimian will be a full participant when training camp opens next month in Kamloops, B.C.

“I believe Solly’s 100 per cent healthy today,” said Buono. “I don’t want to speak for him, but the things that I’ve seen and the reports I’ve gotten, he’s 100 per cent. He’s doing stuff right now that when you look at, makes you excited for 2016 for him.”

Elimimian, who led the CFL with 143 defensive tackles and 151 total tackles — both CFL records — in 2014, has been rehabbing in Carson, Calif.

He told reporters in February after being checked out by team doctors that he initially feared his career could be in jeopardy.

“You hear all the stories, you hear about the guys that don’t come back,” Elimimian said at the time. “It’s uncharted territory.

“One thing I realized about this injury is it’s how hard you fight back.”

The Lions are holding a mini-camp this week at their practice facility that’s being attended predominantly by first- and second-year players.