Michael Sam is getting much closer to playing his first CFL game, according to head coach Tom Higgins.

While the 25-year-old did not take any first team reps at practice on Tuesay, Higgins wouldn't say whether or not Sam would play Saturday against the Calgary Stampeders.

"We would like to see him play, help us on special teams," Higgins said following Tuesday's practice. "We would like to see and get the answer everyone is looking for - can he play? There's only one way to answer that question and that's to put him on the field.

"We are trying to get him ready to go," added Higgins. "We are not making any declaration and I'm not sure we have to. I understand the fascination with all this; I respect that."

Sam has been a game day scratch for the last three games.

Sam, who became the first publicly gay player drafted by an NFL club when the St. Louis Rams picked him in 2014, signed a two-year contract with Montreal. He left two weeks into training camp to attend to personal issues and returned June 29.