B.C. Lions’ DB Marcus Sayles out for Friday’s game vs. Winnipeg

Photo courtesy: Jeff Vinnick/B.C. Lions

B.C. Lions’ defensive back Marcus Sayles will miss Friday’s game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers due to a calf injury.

The 26-year-old has appeared in all seven games with B.C. (4-3) this season, starting four games at safety and three games at strong-side linebacker. He has recorded 34 total tackles, two sacks, one interception, and one forced fumble in his first season with the Lions.

Sayles was a West Division all-star with the Blue Bombers in 2019, producing his best season as a pro with 64 tackles, three interceptions, three forced fumbles, two defensive touchdowns and one sack. He was a key member of the defensive backfield which was part of Winnipeg’s first Grey Cup championship in 29 years.

In 34 career CFL games, Sayles has totalled 136 tackles, seven special teams stops, six interceptions, five forced fumbles, two sacks and two defensive touchdowns. The five-foot-ten, 175-pound cover man recorded 11 tackles and forced one fumble during the Bombers’ title run.

The West Georgia graduate went unselected in the 2017 NFL Draft, however, the Buffalo Bills signed Sayles to an undrafted free agent contract. He played in three pre-season games making two tackles and defending one pass, but Sayles was released by the Bills among final training camp cuts.

In November 2017, the Los Angeles Rams added Sayles to the practice roster. Sayles signed a futures contract with the Rams in January 2018, although L.A. let him go in April. That eventually led Sayles north of the border to the Manitoba capital.