One day after making his season debut for the Minnesota Vikings, Canadian outside linebacker Luiji Vilain is on the move.
The winless Carolina Panthers signed the Ottawa native to their active roster on Tuesday after the Vikings returned Vilain to their practice roster.
Vilain saw limited time in the Vikings’ upset win over the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football.
Vilain played three games for the Vikings last season after signing as an undrafted free agent. The Toronto Argonauts own his CFL rights after picking Vilain in the third round of the 2021 CFL Draft.
The Panthers host the Houston Texans on Saturday.
Meanwhile, fellow Ottawa native Eli Ankou, 29, reportedly is returning to the Buffalo Bills.
Ryan Talbot of Syracuse.com reports the defensive lineman will sign to the Bills’ practice squad on Wednesday, pending a physical.
Ankou started the season on the Bills’ practice roster before signing with the Atlanta Falcons earlier this month. He was waived by Atlanta on Tuesday.
The Bills are battling numerous injuries on defence and Ankou is familiar with the system after having been with Buffalo for parts of the past three seasons.
The Bills host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday. Bills beat reporter Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic believes Ankou could be an instant addition to the Bills’ active roster.
Ankou has been with nine NFL teams since breaking into the league in 2017.
