With a number of additions to their practice squad, including a veteran linebacker who has already played for three different teams this season, the Detroit Lions are strengthening their defence. According to Jeff Risdon of USA Today’s Lions Wire, the Lions employed defensive tackle Chris Smith and linebacker Abraham Beauplan, two of their three practice squad openings, for returning players. Linebacker Ezekiel Turner, an NFL journeyman with defence and special teams experience, took third place.
The Lions made the transactions during the NFL trade deadline in an attempt to strengthen their defence, which has sustained some significant injuries.
THE LION RETURN KNOWN FACES
Smith and Beauplan were promoted for last week’s victory over the Green Bay Packers because, as Risdon pointed out, they had been on the practice squad the entire season. They brought this week’s additions back to the practice squad. Risdon stated, “Smith played 10 snaps in the victory over the Packers, while Beauplan filled in for injured Malcolm Rodriguez and played extensively on special teams.”
Before moving around the league this season, the 28-year-old Turner played primarily on special teams for the Arizona Cardinals for the first six seasons of his career, he added. Risdon said, “The Lions are his fourth team in 2024, with offseason stints with the San Francisco 49ers and practice squad stints with the Texans and Seattle Seahawks during the regular season.” “He spent the first four weeks of the season with the Texans practice squad.” Throughout his career, Turner has played in 81 games, recording 83 total tackles and one forced fumble.
The Lions Make a Significant Trade Deadline Move
The Lions made a more critical move earlier in the week, even though the three additions to the practice squad can give them some much-needed depth. Before Tuesday’s deadline, the team acquired defensive end Za’Darius Smith from the Cleveland Browns, which helped make up for some of the output lost when Pro Bowl edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson broke his leg during a Week 6 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
Dan Campbell, the head coach of the Lions, had previously alluded to a significant move when he told reporters on October 28 that they intended to locate some pass rush assistance. Although we can’t replace Hutch, there are still other things we can do, and guess what? According to ESPN’s Eric Woodyard, Campbell stated, “You put a bigger burden on your back end, and that’s what you’ve got to do, and we’ve done that, and they’ve risen to the challenge.” Has everything gone perfectly? No, but we are receiving takeaway, which is quite important.