Tag: Devine Ozigbo

Lions release RB Devine Ozigbo from the practice squad

It’s the 10th time Ozigbo has been on the Lions transaction wire since July

The Detroit Lions made an interesting move at the bottom of the roster on Tuesday. Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC-2 and quickly confirmed by another source, the Lions have released running back Devine Ozigbo from the team’s practice squad.

Ozigbo has bounced between the Lions active roster and practice squad for several weeks while Detroit dealt with several injuries at running back. He appeared in three games, getting three carries and one reception in the Week 6 win over the Buccaneers.

Now that the team is healthy, Ozigbo’s services were not as in demand in Detroit. The Lions also have Jermar Jefferson on the practice squad behind David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs and Craig Reynolds.

Ozigbo is now free to sign with any team. It opens up a practice squad spot for the Lions, who were at the player limit, too.

Lions add Devine Ozigbo to practice squad on busy Monday for ex-Lions looking for work

Lions add Devine Ozigbo to practice squad on a busy Monday for ex-Lions looking for work

Devine Ozigbo is back on the Detroit Lions practice squad after a brief bout of unemployment. The Lions signed the veteran running back onto the practice squad on Monday after releasing him late last week in the move to sign linebacker Trevor Nowaske to the active roster.

It was a busy Monday on the NFL transaction wire for a lot of former Lions around the league. Specifically, the weekly tryout circuit featured several players who have spent some time in Detroit, including a wave of offensive linemen who played for the Lions this past preseason.

OT Ryan Swoboda – Atlanta Falcons

OT Bobby Hart – San Francisco 49ers

DB Saivion Smith – Tennessee Titans

K John Parker Romo – Titans

K Austin Seibert – Titans

None of the former Lions were signed as of Tuesday morning.

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Lions sign LB Trevor Nowaske from the practice squad

Nowaske is an undrafted rookie from Saginaw Valley State who played well in the preseason, especially on special teams.

Even on a week where no players are in the building, the Detroit Lions are amking roster moves. On Thursday of the bye week, the Lions signed linebacker Trevor Nowaske from the practice squad.

Nowaske is an undrafted rookie from Saginaw Valley State. He signed with the Lions right after the draft and has played extensively on both defense and special teams in the preseason. He’s a Detroit-area native.

To make room for Nowaske, the Lions waived running back Devine Ozigbo. He had been in Nowaske’s shoes, signed from the practice squad to the active roster prior to Week 8.

Lions sign RB Devine Ozigbo, elevate OL Michael Niese

Lions sign RB Devine Ozigbo, elevate OL Michael Niese for Week 8 matchup with the Raiders

The Detroit Lions finalized the roster for the Week 8 matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders by making a couple of additions on Monday.

The Lions signed running back Devine Ozigbo to the active roster from the practice squad. Ozigbo has been elevated in each of the two prior weeks while the team has dealt with injuries. Detroit had an open roster spot so no move was needed to create space on the 53-man roster.

The Lions also elevated offensive lineman Michael Niese from the practice squad. Niese will serve as the backup center behind Graham Glasgow, with starter Frank Ragnow ruled out.

Lions make big changes to the practice squad

Lions make big changes to the practice squad by signing 4 players, including OL Dan Skipper

There were quite a few new players at Detroit Lions practice on Wednesday. The team signed four players to the practice squad to help bolster the injury-riddled roster.

Two of the newcomers have some history with the Lions. Foremost is offensive lineman Dan Skipper, who has been on and off the Lions active roster and practice squad over the last six seasons. Running back Devine Ozigbo is also back after spending the preseason with Detroit. Ozigbo is notable for his receiving and pass protection ability as a running back.

The two other players signed to the practice squad came from the workouts earlier in the week. The Lions added CB Darius Phillips and LB Mitchell Agude. Detroit also released rookie defensive tackle Chris Smith from the practice squad.

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Lions latest wave of roster cuts includes several offensive linemen

Lions latest wave of roster cuts includes several offensive linemen and some expected moves

The quest to get from 90 to just 53 players is progressing quickly for GM Brad Holmes and the Detroit Lions. On Sunday, the Lions announced several cuts.

Some of them were already known, like C Alex Mollette and DL Christian Covington. Mollette was joined on the roster cutdown line by a few fellow offensive linemen.

The Lions released vets Bobby Hart and Germain Ifedi, and also waived tackle Obinna Eze and guard Darrin Paulo, as well as confirming the Mollette move. Ifedi’s release is something of a surprise, as the experienced journeyman had looked better than Matt Nelson during the preseason. These moves appear to ensure that Nelson makes the 53-man roster as the top reserve tackle.

The Lions also released RB Devine Ozigbo and WR Jason Moore. Players who are vested veterans are released and not subject to waivers.

Other players waived, and thus subject to waiver claims on Wednesday:

WR Trinity Benson

WR Avery Davis

TE Daniel Helm

S Scott Nelson

CB Colby Richardson

None of those waivers are unexpected. Benson was the best-known of the group, but he was outplayed by undrafted rookies Chase Cota and Dylan Drummond in the battle for the final roster spot(s).

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Breaking down the battle for the Lions RB depth

Breaking down the battle for the Detroit Lions reserve RB spots behind David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs

David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs are both new to Detroit this season, but they already look like an excellent running back tandem. The Lions duo should be one of the NFL’s best and most versatile.

After the top two RBs, well…

The picture behind Montgomery and Gibbs has blurred in the last couple of weeks. Injuries to Craig Reynolds and Jermar Jefferson and the unexpected retirement of Justin Jackson have really opened up the competition. Or, as head coach Dan Campbell said before Monday’s practice session,

“…nothing is solidified in that third role or fourth for that matter. I mean there’s – we’re going to take the best players and so, our eyes are open. We – (Lions GM)) Brad (Holmes) and I were discussing it, I mean we’re – you want a job, go get it.”

Campbell made sure to emphasize that the competition doesn’t have nearly as much to do with running the ball as it does special teams.

“We’re looking for a third back and it all starts with special teams, man. If they can help us there, then we’re figure out the offensive side of it,” Campbell stated.

Here are the guys trying to go get those jobs and where they stand entering the second week of preseason.

Lions sign RB Devine Ozigbo, waive WR Avery Davis

The Detroit Lions signed free agent RB Devine Ozigbo and waived WR Avery Davis

The constant shuffling at the bottom of the Detroit Lions roster continues. On Wednesday morning, the Lions signed free agent RB Devine Ozigbo.

Ozigbo, 26, is entering his fifth NFL season. His first three seasons were in Jacksonville after the Jaguars signed him as an undrafted free agent from Nebraska. Ozigbo played four games for the Denver Broncos in 2022 and has been a fixture on the NFL’s transaction sheet recently with workouts or tryouts for several teams.

He joins a running back room that includes David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs, Justin Jackson, Craig Reynolds, Jermar Jefferson and Mohamed Ibrahim. In college and during the pre-draft process, the 225-pound Ozigbo was notable for his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. He has the same number of receptions as carries in his NFL career (14).

To make room for Ozigbo, the Lions waived WR Avery Davis, who was with the team for exactly one practice.

7 players the Panthers worked out last Friday

Here are the seven players who the Panthers worked out at the end of last week:

On Friday, the Carolina Panthers got back to Spartanburg and back to working out some fresh faces—seven, to be exact.

Ultimately, they ended up signing one of those players, cornerback Mac McCain. But, for the sake of record keeping, here’s the entire group the Panthers had eyes on last week:

34 days till Patriots season opener: Every player to wear No. 34 for New England

Here’s a list of every Patriots player to wear the No. 34 jersey number

The New England Patriots are officially 34 days away from their 2023 season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. So we’re continuing our countdown series by listing every Patriots player that has ever worn a No. 34 jersey.

It’s hard not to think of some of the standout running backs, particularly in the Bill Belichick coaching era, when it comes to Patriots players and the No. 34.

Rex Burkhead was the one that powered his way into the end zone in the 2018 AFC Championship Game to deliver the dagger to the Kansas City Chiefs in overtime. Shane Vereen had a team-high 11 receptions for the Patriots to help knock off the Seattle Seahawks at Super Bowl XLIX.

And Sammy Morris plowed for 727 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in 13 games to contribute to an 11-win season without Tom Brady at quarterback in 2008.

Let’s take a look at every Patriots player throughout franchise history that has worn the No. 34 (via Pro Football Reference).