One of the players who was in Detroit for the rookie minicamp on a tryout basis succeeded in his quest to make the Lions. Linebacker Natrez Patrick was signed by the Lions after getting a look over the weekend.
Patrick is not a rookie. He spent most of the last three seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, playing almost exclusively on special teams in the 2019 and 2020 seasons. Patrick played collegiately at Georgia and joined the Rams as an undrafted free agent following the 2019 draft.
He was waived by the Rams during the postseason and claimed by the Denver Broncos, but that franchise quickly waived Patrick with injury designation. He did not play in 2021.
To make room for Patrick, the Lions waived EDGE Jessie Lemonier. He played in seven games for the Lions in 2021 and registered 1.5 sacks and 15 total tackles. Patrick is an off-ball LB with more bulk (he’s a muscular 6-2 and 244 pounds), while Lemonier was a pass-rushing outside backer.