The Sports Xchange

Michael Sam confirmed he is ready to resume his pro football career after rejoining the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League

Sam, a defensive lineman, wrote on Twitter that he is back after a two-week absence for unexplained personal reasons.

“Thank you all so much for your support. Great to be back in Montreal with the club. Let’s go #Als!” Sam tweeted Saturday.

The Alouettes said Friday that Sam had returned to Montreal and was expected to attend team meetings Sunday before resuming practice Monday.

There has been no explanation for why Sam abruptly left the CFL team on June 12. The Alouettes placed Sam on their suspended list after he left.

Sam, who signed in May with the Alouettes, was the first openly gay player drafted by an NFL team when he was selected in the seventh round by the St. Louis Rams last year. He was released by the Rams during the preseason and later picked up and let go by the Dallas Cowboys.

The 25-year-old Sam encountered difficulty in the NFL because at 6-foot-2, 260 pounds, he did not exactly fit the prototype of a defensive end or an outside linebacker.

Sam was co-defensive player of the year in the Southeastern Conference while at Missouri.

The Alouettes are 0-1, losing their season opener to the Ottawa Redblacks 20-16 on Thursday night.