Rookie defensive tackle Lee Autry to start for Ted Laurent in Sunday’s Grey Cup

Published December 11, 2021 at 11:44 am

HAMILTON — The Hamilton Tiger-Cat confirmed the obvious Saturday — defensive lineman Ted Laurent will miss the Grey Cup after undergoing treatment for appendicitis.

The refrigerator-sized run-stopper had missed practice Thursday and Friday, with the club initially only saying he was dealing with a non-COVID illness. The East Division champions said later Friday that the six-foot-one 299-pound Laurent had undergone a medical procedure for appendicitis, but offered little else on their lineup.

On Saturday it was made official when the Grey Cup rosters were released. Lee Autry was listed at defensive tackle with fellow rookie Chris Mulumba his backup.

Autry, a six-foot-two 305-pounder, made his first career CFL start on Aug. 14 at Saskatchewan. In all, the 25-year-old dressed in four regular-season games, including two starts.

The Ticats had the best run defence in the league this season, limiting the opposition to 79.6 yards a game. Laurent’s immovable bulk was one of the main reasons why and was being counted on to help stop Blue Bombers running back Andrew Harris.

A four-time divisional all-star and two-time all-CFL selection, Laurent was nominated as the East Division’s Most Outstanding Canadian in 2014.

The big man has been a fixture in a hard-nosed Ticat defensive line that also features Ja’Gared Davis, Dylan Wynn and Julian Howsare.