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Not long ago, Imoan Claiborne was working in an acid plant in Florida after getting NFL looks from the St. Louis Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2015.

As the injuries keep stacking up for the Ottawa Redblacks, the defensive back is hoping he can step right into the lineup and help his teammates beat the Argos on Wednesday in Toronto.

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With Jerrell Gavins and Forrest Hightower out at least this week, Claiborne and Tristan Jackson, a nine-year CFL veteran who was signed by Ottawa less than two weeks ago, will be pushed into action in the secondary. Nick Taylor, another defensive back, will also be in Ottawa’s lineup, while Landon Cohen replaces Matt Acree on the defensive line.

The soon-to-be-24-year-old Claiborne laughs when he’s asked about working in an acid plant: “You want to stay as far away from the acid as possible when it’s coming out. You have to keep your head on a swivel, just like out here you have to keep your head on a swivel.”