One of the B.C. Lions’ top free agent acquisitions is slated to make his debut Saturday, as the team has listed defensive tackle Woody Baron on their official depth chart.
Initially signed by the Lions this offseason, Baron’s contract was valued at 190,000 in hard money, the second highest amount for any interior defensive lineman in the league. However, the 29-year-old pass rusher has yet to suit up for a game this season and has spent the entirety of his first campaign in Vancouver on the six-game injured list.
After recovering from his ankle injury well enough to practice the last two weeks, that changes on Saturday against Calgary. Baron is listed as a backup defensive tackle behind rookie Canadian Nathan Cherry and is expected to feature heavily in the Lions’ rotation.
Baron last played with the Montreal Alouettes in 2021, recording 16 tackles, six sacks and a forced fumble in 14 games. All told, in 50 regular season games over three seasons in La Belle Province, the defensive tackle has amassed 71 tackles and 11 sacks.
A product of Virginia Tech, Baron had 99 total tackles, nine sacks, three fumble recoveries, and two forced fumbles in 52 career NCAA games. He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in May 2017 and attended training camp with the team, before making his way to Canada a year later.
Baron won’t be the only key addition to the Lions’ defence on Saturday, as defensive back T.J. Lee — the team’s longest serving defensive player — is also slated to return to the lineup after a two-game absence.
The Lions (9-3) are scheduled to kickoff against the Calgary Stampeders (8-5) at 10 p.m. EDT on September 24.
