Sources have confirmed that the B.C. Lions have decided to release veteran defensive lineman Woody Baron from their roster. This decision comes ahead of the deadline for an offseason roster bonus, which was scheduled for February 14. Baron, aged 30, was expected to receive a bonus of $30,000 as part of his contract, which could have potentially earned him around $150,000 for the year 2024.
In the 2023 season, Baron played in a total of 17 games, during which he made 22 tackles, recorded eight sacks, and forced one fumble. However, his tenure with the Lions has been marked by challenges, notably an ankle injury suffered during the pre-season of 2022. This injury restricted his participation to just the final six regular-season games of that year, during which he managed to secure seven defensive tackles and one sack.
The recent re-signing of defensive tackle Steven Richardson, who returned to the Lions after briefly retiring due to consecutive Achilles tendon injuries, has contributed to the decision to part ways with Baron. Plans to strengthen the defensive interior, led by Richardson and supported by a rotation of players like Josh Banks, Nathan Cherry, and Tibo Debaillie, made Baron’s relatively high cost untenable for the team.
Before joining the Lions, Baron spent three seasons with the Montreal Alouettes in the CFL, where he accumulated 71 defensive tackles, 11 sacks, and one forced fumble over the course of 50 regular-season games. During his college career at Virginia Tech, he made a total of 98 combined tackles, nine sacks, and two forced fumbles in four seasons. He also attended the Dallas Cowboys’ training camp in 2017.
Throughout his CFL career spanning 73 games, Baron, originally from Chicago, has amassed 100 tackles, 20 sacks, and two forced fumbles.
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