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Detroit Lions News & Rumors

Lions Re-Sign LB Josh Bynes

October 25th, 2016 at 6:08pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Lions didn’t waste any time in finding a new linebacker after trading Kyle Van Noy to the Patriots, as the club announce that they’ve re-signed veteran Josh Bynes. Bynes had been on the free agent market since being waived from Detroit’s injured reserve list earlier this year."<strong

[RELATED: Detroit Lions Depth Chart]

Bynes, 27, started 11 games for the Lions in 2015, racking up 54 tackles and five passes defensed. All told, Bynes has appeared in more than 50 games during his career with Detroit (and before that, Baltimore), acting mostly as a reserve and special teams option. He’ll join a Lions linebacking unit that boasts Tahir Whitehead and Armonty Bryant, and help cover for the absence of DeAndre Levy.

PFR reported last month that Bynes had reached a four-week injury settlement with the Lions. Under the NFL’s rules, a player must wait the duration of the settlement plus an additional three weeks before re-signing with the club that cut him. That period of time has now passed, so Bynes was free to rejoin Detroit.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/25/16

October 25th, 2016 at 5:45pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s practice squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

  • Signed: WR Dobson Collins

Buffalo Bills

Cleveland Browns

  • Cut: OL Mike Liedtke

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New York Jets

  • Signed: LB Reshard Cliett (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Redskins

Lions Trade LB Kyle Van Noy To Patriots

October 25th, 2016 at 1:59pm CST by Zachary Links

The Lions have traded linebacker Kyle Van Noy to the Patriots, according to Field Yates and James Walker of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The deal will send Van Noy and a seventh-round pick to New England in exchange for a sixth-round pick (link)."<strong

Van Noy was believed to be on the chopping block in Detroit after the draft. The Lions kept him on the roster, but they have opted to move him for a modest return mid-season. Van Noy, the Lions‘ second-round pick in 2014, had half of his rookie season wiped out by a stint on injured reserve. Since then, he has not been 100% healthy and his surgically-repaired hip has continued to hamper him. Still, the BYU product started all seven of the Lions’ games this season, totaling 23 tackles and one pass defended.

After the trade, the Patriots are now deeper than ever at linebacker. Behind starters Dont’a Hightower, Jamie Collins, and Elandon Roberts, the Pats have linebacker/defensive end Ninkovich, Shea McClellin, Barkevious Mingo, and now Van Noy. There’s also Jonathan Freeny who could be brought back from IR late in the season.

The Lions are left somewhat thin at linebacker, but that could change when/if linebacker Jon Bostic is brought back from IR. Detroit should also get DeAndre Levy back soon.

This isn’t the first time that Lions GM Bob Quinn has worked out a trade with his former employers in New England. Earlier this year, the Lions acquired Bostic in a swap with the Patriots.

After beating the Redskins on Sunday, the Lions now stand at 4-3 as they prepare for the Texans on Sunday. The Patriots, meanwhile, are 6-1 with the rival Bills on the docket.

Birkett On Free Agent LBs Lions Could Target

October 23rd, 2016 at 12:36pm CST by Rory Parks

Lions Work Out Dallas Thomas, Two Others

October 22nd, 2016 at 12:25pm CST by Ben Levine

With defensive tackle Haloti Ngata being questionable for this weekend’s game, the Lions are eyeing some defensive lineman. According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter), the team has auditioned defensive end Shelby Harris and defensive tackle Lawrence Virgil. The Lions also worked out offensive guard Dallas Thomas.

Dallas ThomasHarris, 25, was a seventh-round pick back in 2014. In two seasons with the Raiders, the Illinois State product played in eight games, compiling 14 tackles and one sack. Harris spent time with the Jets this offseason, but he was ultimately cut in late August. Virgil, meanwhile, has one NFL game on his resume. The 25-year-old was released by the Saints in early August after having spent two years with the organization.

Despite not necessarily fitting a need, Thomas is the most notable name among the auditionees. The former third-round pick had spent his entire career with the Dolphins, making 37 appearances in three-plus seasons. The 26-year-old was actually a consistent presence on the Dolphins line in 2015, starting all 16 games. An underwhelming performance in early October led to his release from the team.

Lions Work Out Three LBs

October 18th, 2016 at 8:08pm CST by Connor J. Byrne
  • The Lions took a look at linebackers Brandon Chubb, Raphael Kirby and Reggie Northrup (Twitter link). Chubb impressed the team enough to earn a place on its practice squad.

Lions Lose Brian Mihalik To Steelers

October 18th, 2016 at 6:27pm CST by Zachary Links
  • The Steelers announced that they have signed offensive tackle Brian Mihalik to the team’s active roster off the Lions‘ practice squad. To make room, offensive lineman Matt Feiler was cut loose. Mihalik spent the 2016 offseason and part of training camp with Pittsburgh.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/18/16

October 18th, 2016 at 5:56pm CST by Zachary Links

Tuesday’s practice squad transactions:

Baltimore Ravens 

Cleveland Browns

  • Signed: DB Darius Hillary, WR Jordan Leslie
  • Cut: E.J. Bibbs

Denver Broncos

  • Signed: LB Quentin Gause, TE Steven Scheu (Twitter link via Cameron Wolfe of the Denver Post)
  • Cut: WR Mose Frazier, LB Richard Cliett

Detroit Lions

  • Signed: LB Brandon Chubb

Indianapolis Colts

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

  • Signed: DL Royce LaFrance (Twitter link via Nick Underhill of The Advocate)

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

  • Signed: OL Don Cherry
  • Cut: G Darrell Greene

San Francisco 49ers

  • Signed: WR DeAndre Smelter
  • Cut: WR Dres Anderson

Seattle Seahawks

  • Signed: DT Justin Hamilton (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times)
  • Cut: DE Sterling Bailey

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/17/16

October 17th, 2016 at 7:27pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s practice squad moves:

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

New England Patriots

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Birkett On Stafford, RBs

October 16th, 2016 at 12:34pm CST by Rory Parks
  • Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press believes the Lions opted for veteran Justin Forsett instead of a younger, high-upside back like Karlos Williams simply because they weren’t looking for a project for their backfield. With Ameer Abdullah, Theo Riddick, and Dwayne Washington all under contract for the next few years, Birkett believes Forsett was a better fit for Detroit’s locker room. Once Riddick returns from injury, Birkett believes he and Washington will split the work about 60-40, with Forsett filling a supporting role.
  • In the same piece, Birkett writes that there is a very good chance that Matthew Stafford signs a third contract with the Lions next summer, no matter how the teams finishes in 2016. Indeed, Birkett believes the only way Stafford does not sign a new deal with Detroit is if he would rather hit free agency in a couple of years, which currently seems unlikely.
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