The Detroit Lions signed defensive tackle Kevin Strong to the practice squad and have protected him, slog with Frank Herron, Albert Huggins, and Bobby Price in Week 13.
The Detroit Lions fired general manager Bob Quinn on Saturday, but unlike the coaching situation where Darrell Bevell is replacing Matt Patricia, Quinn is being replaced by a collection of front office individuals.
Quinn’s right-hand man, Kyle O’Brien (Vice President of Player Personnel), along with Lance Newmark (Director of Player Personnel), Rob Lohman (Director of Pro Scouting), and salary cap guru Mike Disner (Vice President of Football Administration) will all contribute to keeping the Lions front office active.
Their first move since Quinn’s firing was to sign defensive tackle Kevin Strong to the practice squad. A corresponding move was not needed in this situation, as a practice squad position was available after the Lions signed wide receiver Mohamad Sanu to the active roster last Wednesday.
The Lions have been dealing with several injuries along their defensive line over the last month. Defensive lineman Trey Flowers is on injured reserve — but is cleared to begin practicing once healthy –, defensive tackle Nick Williams has missed two games this year including one just three weeks ago, while Da’Shawn Hand is currently injured and has missed the last two weeks.
Strong — who has a year and a half worth of experience in the Lions scheme — will give them immediate depth.
With Hand’s availability still in question, the Lions recognize they may need to make another move this week and they are giving themselves options to do so.
Defensive tackles Frank Herron, Albert Huggins, and Strong are all protected practice squad players this week, essentially setting up a competition on the defensive tackle depth chart.
To combat the injuries along the line, the Lions have elevated defensive linemen from the practice each of the last three weeks. Herron was elevated twice and has, in turn, exhausted his ability to be promoted again — he would need to be signed to the active roster in order to play again in 2020.
Last week, the Lions elevated Huggins, but he played on just 14 snaps and was one of Pro Football Focus’ lowest graded Lions in Week 12. Huggins still has one elevation option remaining, as does Strong who was elevated in Week 2 to replace Willilams, leaving them as easily promotable options.
The fourth player protected this week is a bit of a surprise as it deviated from what has happened all year.
For the first time this season, cornerback/gunner Dee Virgin was not protected — with the fact that he has used up both his elevations this season likely played a factor.
Instead, the Lions’ Collective Front Office opted to protect undrafted free agent safety Bobby Price. Coming out of Norfolk State, Price has flown a bit under the radar — no preseason will do that — but he is an impressively athletic ball of clay. In training camp, he didn’t appear near ready to play on defense, but with Virgin being eliminated from elevations, Price could very well be the best special teams player the Lions have on the practice squad.
