Lions Make First Defensive Additions After Trade Deadline, Sign Veteran LB

The Detroit Lions are reinforcing their defense, making a series of moves on their practice squad, including adding a veteran linebacker who has been with three different teams this season.

As reported by Jeff Risdon of USA Today’s Lions Wire, the Lions had three openings on their practice squad and filled two of them with returning players: defensive tackle Chris Smith and linebacker Abraham Beauplan. The third spot went to Ezekiel Turner, a seasoned NFL linebacker with experience on both defense and special teams.

These adjustments come as the Lions work to strengthen a defense impacted by key injuries, taking steps to address these gaps by the NFL trade deadline.

Lions Re-Sign Familiar Faces

Risdon noted that both Smith and Beauplan had been on the practice squad all season and were elevated for last week’s victory over the Green Bay Packers. With this week’s signings, they return to the practice squad.

“Smith played 10 snaps in the win over the Packers, while Beauplan didn’t get in on defense but was active on special teams, covering for injured Malcolm Rodriguez,” Risdon reported.

He also highlighted that Turner, 28, spent his first six seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, primarily on special teams, before moving between teams this year.

“The Lions are his fourth team in 2024, having spent time with the Texans and Seattle Seahawks practice squads during the season and offseason with the San Francisco 49ers,” Risdon wrote. “He was on the Texans’ practice squad for the season’s first four weeks.”

Turner has played in 81 games, recording 83 tackles and forcing one fumble in his career.

https://twitter.com/Lions/status/1854527476040430020

Veteran LB

Lions Make Significant Trade at Deadline

While these practice squad additions provide additional depth, the Lions also made a bigger move earlier in the week.

The team acquired Cleveland Browns defensive end Za’Darius Smith in a trade before Tuesday’s deadline, aiming to fill the gap left by Pro Bowl edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, who fractured his leg in a Week 6 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell hinted at a potential addition on October 28, sharing with reporters that the team would seek help for its pass rush.

“We’re not going to replace Hutch, but there are other adjustments we can make. You put more responsibility on the back end, and they’ve stepped up,” Campbell said, per ESPN’s Eric Woodyard. “It hasn’t been perfect, but we’re generating takeaways, and that’s huge.”

According to Woodyard, the Lions have struggled to consistently pressure opposing quarterbacks since Hutchinson’s injury.

“In the three games without Hutchinson, the Lions have managed a 30.6% pass rush win rate, ranking 26th in the league over that span,” Woodyard reported. “In the last two games — against Tennessee and Green Bay — the Lions generated just one sack, with their pressure rate falling to 27%, down from 32% over the first six games of the season.”