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Detroit Lions News & Rumors

Lions Sign DB Don Carey

November 20th, 2018 at 5:01pm CST by Ben Levine

Don Carey is back in Detroit. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports (via Twitter) that the veteran defensive back has signed with the Lions. The team waived defensive end Eric Lee to clear a roster spot.

Carey bounced around the league after being selected in the sixth round during the 2009 draft. However, the Norfolk State product seemingly found a home in Detroit. After signing with the organization in 2011, Carey proceeded to play the next seven years for the organization. The 31-year-old served as mostly a backup and special teamer during his tenure with the Lions, including a 2017 campaign where he compiled nine tackles and one forced fumble in 13 games.

Carey signed with the Jaguars way back in March, but he was placed on injured reserve during the preseason. He was subsequently released by the organization, and he only garnered a single workout (with Detroit) back in September. Carey will likely slide to the bottom of the Lions cornerback depth chart behind Darius Slay, Nevin Lawson, Teez Tabor, DeShawn Shead, and Mike Ford.

Lee appeared in five games for the Lions this season, compiling a pair of tackles. He actually started five of his six games with the Patriots in 2017, finishing with 19 tackles, 3.5 sacks, two passes defended, a safety, and an interception. He also appeared in all three postseason games for New England.

Lions’ Kerryon Johnson To Miss Time

November 19th, 2018 at 1:43pm CST by Zachary Links

The Lions will be without running back Kerryon Johnson for one or two games with a knee sprain, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). All things considered, it’s not a terrible outcome since there was fear of a more serious injury at first. 

Johnson will be sidelined for this year’s Thanksgiving Day matchup against the Bears, but he’ll have a puncher’s chance at suiting up for the club’s Dec. 2 game against the Rams. At worst, it sounds like Johnson will be on the field for Dec. 9 against the Cardinals. Without Johnson, the Lions are expected to lean on a committee of LeGarrette Blount, Theo Riddick, and Zach Zenner.

Johnson has managed 5.4 yards per carry on 118 attempts so far during his rookie season and also ranks seventh in Football Outsiders’ success rate, meaning he’s effective at keeping the Lions’ offense on schedule. The second-round pick out of Auburn has averaged 5.4 yards per tote and has also reeled in 32 grabs for 213 yards. In total, he has four all-purpose touchdowns and has clearly emerged as the best running back in the Lions’ group.

The Lions edged the Panthers 20-19 on Sunday, keeping their slim playoff hopes alive. At 4-6, they’ll need wins in the next two games – with or without Johnson – in order to keep things afloat.

Kerryon Johnson Believed To Have Avoided ACL Tear

November 19th, 2018 at 11:49am CST by Dallas Robinson
  • Although he’ll undergo an MRI before getting any official diagnosis, Lions running back Kerryon Johnson isn’t believed to have torn his ACL on Sunday, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Instead, Johnson is believed to have suffered a knee sprain. While a sprain wouldn’t knock Johnson out for the remainder of the season, it could put his availability for Week 12 in serious doubt. That’s especially true given that Detroit is facing a short turnaround, as they’ll face the Bears in a Thanksgiving Day matchup. Johnson has managed 5.4 yards per carry on 118 attempts so far during his rookie season, and also ranks seventh in Football Outsiders’ success rate, meaning he’s effective at keeping the Lions’ offense on schedule. If Johnson is out on Thursday, Detroit would use a committee of LeGarrette Blount, Theo Riddick, and Zach Zenner.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/18/18

November 18th, 2018 at 2:51pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s practice squad moves:

Chicago Bears

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

Lions Promote WR Andy Jones From P-Squad, Work Out Terrelle Pryor

November 17th, 2018 at 4:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

With Marvin Jones out for Sunday’s game, the Lions promoted wide receiver Andy Jones to help their depleted pass-catcher corps.

But prior to that decision, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports they worked out Terrelle Pryor (Twitter link). Cut by both the Jets and Bills this season, Pryor is back in free agency, where he’s began the past two offseasons.

The Bills cut Pryor after one game. He’d previously voiced concerns about his role with the Jets. While he received more playing time later in his Jets tenure due to injuries to other Jet receivers, Pryor was released. His career has trended downward since an injury-plagued 2017 in Washington depleted his value.

In 2016, Pryor surpassed 1,000 yards with a Browns team that used five quarterbacks. But he settled for a one-year Redskins deal and signed for less with the Jets this offseason.

Jones spent time on Detroit’s active roster earlier this season before being waived. He made his way to the Lions’ practice squad earlier this month and will now return to the active roster. A second-year UDFA, Jones saw action in one Lions game this season.

 

Lions Work Out QB Nathan Peterman

November 17th, 2018 at 3:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

Nathan Peterman‘s brutal Bills outings did not dissuade the Lions from taking a look at the now-free agent quarterback.

Detroit worked out the second-year passer, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. This is Peterman’s first workout since the Bills waived him this week.

The Bills signed both Derek Anderson and Matt Barkley this season, doing so because of Josh Allen‘s injury and Peterman’s inability to give the team manageable starts. Peterman made two starts for the Bills this season. Both ended in blowout losses.

This season, Peterman has a 6.5 Total QBR and has thrown one touchdown pass compared to seven interceptions. This work sample came a year after the 2017 fifth-round pick’s infamous five-interception outing against the Chargers.

The Lions have Matthew Stafford and Matt Cassel on their active roster and Jake Rudock on their practice squad.

Marvin Jones Seeking Second Opinion

November 16th, 2018 at 4:48pm CST by Sam Robinson
  • The post-Megatron Lions relied on the Marvin Jones–Golden Tate tandem. For the first time since Calvin Johnson retired, neither will suit up for Detroit. Jones is out for Sunday’s game against the Panthers after missing practice this week, and ESPN.com’s Michael Rothstein reports the veteran Lions wideout is seeking a second opinion on his injured right knee. Initial tests revealed no damage to Jones’ ACL or MCL, and Jones was diagnosed with a bone bruise. He’ll miss only his second game as a Lion. T.J. Jones would likely be the starter in Marvin Jones‘ place.
  • T.J. Lang‘s Lions tenure hasn’t gone as smoothly from a health standpoint. The former Pro Bowl guard landed on IR this week because of a neck injury, but that setback is not believed to be career-threatening, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports. Lang also suffered a concussion that forced him to miss time earlier this season. He only played in six games this season after missing three in 2017. Set for his age-32 season next year, Lang — with an $11.1MM cap number — will be a release candidate in the offseason. The Lions could save more than $8MM by releasing the acclaimed blocker. Lang is due a $500K roster bonus on the fourth day of the upcoming league year.
  • Darius Slay, however, will be back for the Lions after missing Week 10. Bears wideout Allen Robinson gouged the Lions in Slay’s absence, but the All-Pro cornerback was not on the injury report as of Friday and will return Sunday.

Lions Notes; Stafford, Jones

November 14th, 2018 at 7:56pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Matthew Stafford hasn’t had a particularly productive campaign in 2018, and the Lions have struggled to a 3-6 record while ranking just 9th in offensive DVOA. But that doesn’t mean Detroit will have any interest — or opportunity — to move on from its veteran quarterback this offseason, as Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press writes. “You’ve got as much chance of getting rid of Matthew Stafford as the Baltimore Ravens did of Joe Flacco prior to next year, because there was no way they were ever getting rid of Joe Flacco because of the way his contract was structured until 2019 at the earliest,” says former agent and current CBS.com contributor Joel Corry. Stafford signed a five-year, $135MM extension in 2017 that included a $50MM signing bonus. That bonus is prorated through 2021 at a rate of $10MM annually, meaning it will be virtually impossible for the Lions to cut Stafford before 2020. Among the 25 signal-callers that have attempted at least 250 passes this season, Stafford ranks just 15th in passer rating and 20th in adjusted net yards per attempt.

  • One of Stafford’s weapons, wide receiver Marvin Jones, went down with a knee injury in Sunday’s loss to the Bears, but tests showed the Lions pass-catcher’s ACL and MCL are both intact, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. However, Jones did suffer a bone bruise and is now considered day-to-day. It’s unclear if Jones will be able to play against the Panthers in Week 11, but Detroit needs all the receivers it can find (having already traded Golden Tate to the Eagles earlier this month). If Jones can’t go, fellow wideouts Bruce Ellington, Brandon Powell, and T.J. Jones would see more work behind starter Kenny Golladay. Marvin Jones, currently in his third season with the Lions, has posted 35 receptions, 508 yards, and five touchdowns this year.
  • In case you missed it, the Lions placed starting right guard T.J. Lang on injured reserve, meaning his season is now over due to a neck injury.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/14/18

November 14th, 2018 at 5:00pm CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Detroit Lions

  • Signed: DB David Jones

Indianapolis Colts

Oakland Raiders

Washington Redskins

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