Michael Sam leaves Alouettes training camp for personal reasons

Montreal Alouettes defensive end Michael Sam has left training camp, according to Didier Ormejuste of RDS.

TSN 690's Rick Moffat says he ran into Sam at Montreal's Trudeau International Airport and that he's left due to personal reasons.

"Headed home for personal reasons. Only small Cotton Bowl bag with him," Moffat said on Twitter. "Seemed rushed, mind elsewhere when I introduced myself. Don't think he had enough luggage with him to be bailing or bugging out."

It was not immediately clear why Sam left training camp ahead of Saturday's preseason opener against the Ottawa RedBlacks, which he was expected to miss due to illness.

"I'm not sure what his status is health wise," Alouettes head coach Tom Higgins said Friday. "We wouldn't want to put him out there if he's under the weather, but we'll wait and see"

"This surprises me right now. I thought he would have been out here," Higgins added.

Although the coach was unaware of Sam's absence the organization apparently did and released a statement giving their full support to Sam.

Friday morning, Michael Sam asked the team a special permission to leave training camp and return home for personal reasons.

With all due respect for Michael Sam, the nature of this decision will remain confidential.

The Montreal Alouettes fully respect Michael Sam's decision and rally around him to offer him all time and support needed. The team has left the door open and Michael is welcome to come back whenever he feels ready.

The organization will have no further comment on this matter at this time.

Sam signed with the Alouettes in May after failing to be signed by an NFL team in the offseason.