STATEMENT FROM LIONS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER BOB QUINN ON DEANDRE LEVY PLUS NEW SIGNINGS
“On behalf of our entire organization, I would like to thank DeAndre for his many contributions to the Detroit Lions over the past eight seasons. While he excelled as a player during his time with us, DeAndre also had a genuine desire to make a difference off the field, investing a lot of his time and resources in social causes throughout the Detroit community. We wish DeAndre the very best in all his future endeavors.”
LIONS SIGN UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT DT AKEEM SPENCE
Spence (6-1, 307) spent the previous four seasons (2013-16) with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In 2016, he played in all 16 games (four starts), logging 19 tackles (10 solo), 0.5 sacks and two tackles for loss.
A former fourth-round (100th overall) draft selection by the Buccaneers in the 2013 NFL Draft out of Illinois, the Fort Walton Beach, Fla., native has appeared in 56 career games (30 starts). In four NFL seasons, his career totals include 96 tackles (64 solo), 5.5 sacks, nine tackles for loss and three fumble recoveries.
LIONS SIGN UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT LB PAUL WORRILOW
The fifth-year linebacker comes to Detroit following a four-year stint (2013-16) with the Atlanta Falcons. Worrilow (6-0, 230) played in 12 games in 2016 (one start), as well as all three of Atlanta’s postseason games en route to the team’s berth in Super Bowl LI.
An undrafted rookie free agent with the Falcons in 2013 out of Delaware, Worrilow has logged 59 career games and 44 starts. His career totals include 382 tackles (242 solo), four sacks, two interceptions, 10 pass defenses, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
LIONS SIGN FREE AGENT TE DARREN FELLS
Fells (6-7, 281) joins the Lions after spending the last three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals (2014-16). He played in 14 games (seven starts) last season for the Cardinals, logging 14 receptions for 154 yards and one touchdown.
Following a four-year basketball career at UC-Irvine, Fells spent four years (2008-12) as a professional basketball player overseas with stints in Argentina, Belgium, Finland, France and Mexico. He transitioned into the NFL as a free agent with the Seattle Seahawks in 2013 and went on to spend his rookie season as a member of the Cardinals practice squad. In three NFL seasons, he has played in 38 career games (24 starts) and totaled 40 receptions for 536 yards and four touchdowns.
LIONS SIGN UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT DE CORNELIUS WASHINGTON
Washington (6-4, 292) comes to Detroit after beginning his NFL career with the Chicago Bears (2013-16). He recorded 20 tackles (14 solo), two sacks, one pass defense and two tackles for loss in the 15 games he played (two starts) last season.
Originally drafted by the Bears in the sixth round (188th overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft out of Georgia, Washington has appeared in 31 games (two starts) and totaled 27 tackles (19 solo), three sacks, one pass defense and five tackles for loss.
LIONS SIGN UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT CB DJ HAYDEN
Hayden (5-11, 190) spent the first four seasons of his career (2013-16) with the Oakland Raiders. A former first-round (12th overall) selection by the Raiders in the 2013 NFL Draft out of Houston, Hayden has appeared in 45 career games (25 starts). His career totals include 178 total tackles (160 solo), one sack, three interceptions, 26 pass defenses and three forced fumbles.
LIONS SIGN UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT T RICK WAGNER
Wagner (6-6, 310) embarks on his fifth NFL season after beginning his career (2013-16) with the Baltimore Ravens. He played in 15 games last season along the Ravens offensive line, making 14 starts at right tackle.
Originally drafted by the Ravens in the fifth round (168th overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft out of Wisconsin, Wagner has played in 62 of a possible 64 games (47 starts) for the Ravens over the last four seasons. While at Wisconsin, Wagner, a West Allis, Wis. native, served as a team captain and earned First Team All-Big Ten, Academic All-Big Ten and several All-American honors as a senior in 2012.
LIONS SIGN FREE AGENT WR KESHAWN MARTIN
Martin enters his sixth NFL season following previous stints with the Houston Texans (2012-14), New England Patriots (2015) and San Francisco 49ers (2016). Originally drafted by the Texans in the fourth round (121st overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft out of Michigan State, the Inkster, Mich. native has appeared in 58 career games (10 starts), as well as four postseason games. His career regular season totals include 62 receptions for 685 yards and five touchdowns.
LIONS SIGN UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT G T.J. LANG
Lang (6-4, 318) enters his ninth NFL season following an eight-year stint (2009-16) with the Green Bay Packers. He was selected to the Pro Bowl this past season.
Born in Royal Oak, Mich., and a graduate of Bloomfield Hills’ Brother Rice High School, Lang was drafted by the Packers in the fourth round (109th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft out of Eastern Michigan. In 119 career games, he has logged 94 starts, as well as 16 postseason games (11 starts).
LIONS RE-SIGN LS DON MUHLBACH
Muhlbach returns to Detroit entering his 14th NFL season, all with the Lions. By playing in all 16 games in 2016, he moved his career games total to 196 as he currently ranks fourth on the Lions’ all-time list for career games played. Muhlbach is just the fifth player in franchise history to play in at least 190 games for the Lions and currently trails LB Wayne Walker (200) for third place.
Last season Muhlbach was part of a special teams unit that featured Pro Bowl K Matt Prater and P Sam Martin, who re-set the Lions single-season net punting record (44.2).