LIONS RECENT SIGNINGS PLUS OTHER MOVES

In

The Detroit Lions have signed CB Raysean Pringle. An undrafted rookie free agent out of Southern Utah in 2017, Pringle spent his rookie season as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Green Bay Packers practice squads. Pringle appeared in 33 games as a running back and wide receiver during his college career at Southern Utah. The Oakland, Calif. native finished with 228 carries for 1,130 yards and 14 touchdowns, as well as 36 receptions for 329 yards.

The Lions have signed free agent QB Matt Cassel. Cassel comes to Detroit after spending the previous two seasons (2016-17) with the Tennessee Titans. He appeared in two games last season and finished with 25 completions on 42 attempts for 162 yards and one touchdown. A seventh-round draft selection (230th overall) by the New England Patriots in the 2005 NFL Draft out of Southern California, Cassel’s previous NFL stops include New England (2005-08), Kansas City (2009-12), Minnesota (2013-14), Buffalo (2015), Dallas (2015) and Tennessee (2016-17). In 105 career games (81 starts), he has logged 1,571 completions on 2,666 attempts (58.9 percent), 17,449 yards and 104 touchdowns. He has also appeared in five postseason games.

The Lions have signed free agent TE Levine Toilolo. Prior to Detroit, Toilolo spent five seasons (2013-17) with the Atlanta Falcons. He played in 15 games (12 starts) in 2017 and finished with 12 receptions for 122 yards and one touchdown. A fourth-round selection by the Falcons in the 2013 NFL Draft out of Stanford, Toilolo has appeared in 79 career games (57 starts). His career totals include 74 receptions for 723 yards and seven touchdowns. In five postseason games, he has logged four receptions for 43 yards.

The  Lions have signed unrestricted free agent C Wesley Johnson. Entering his fifth season, Johnson comes to Detroit after spending three years (2015-17) with the New York Jets, where he started in 15 games in 2017. A fifth-round selection by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2014 NFL Draft out of Vanderbilt, Johnson has appeared in 41 total career games with 24 starts.

The Lions have signed unrestricted free agent LB Jonathan Freeny. Freeny joins the Lions after spending time with the New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens and New Orleans Saints in 2017. He finished the season with the Saints and recorded two tackles in two games. An undrafted rookie free agent with the Miami Dolphins in 2011 out of Rutgers, Freeny spent his first four years (2011-14) in the NFL with the Dolphins before playing two seasons with the Patriots (2015-16). In 68 career games (11 starts), he has totaled 76 tackles (44 solo), two sacks, one pass defense, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. His career postseason totals (four games) include eight tackles (two solo), one sack and one fumble recovery.

The Lions have signed free agent DT Sylvester Williams. Williams joins the Lions after spending the 2017 season with the Tennessee Titans, where he played in 15 games (11 starts) and finished with 20 tackles (12 solo). Prior to Tennessee, Williams played four seasons (2013-16) with the Denver Broncos. A former first-round selection (28th overall) by the Broncos in the 2013 NFL Draft out of North Carolina, Williams’ career totals include 75 games (59 starts), 114 total tackles (79 solo), six sacks, two pass defenses and one fumble recovery. In nine postseason games (seven starts), he has totaled 13 tackles (10 solo), one sack and one pass defense. He was a member of Denver’s Super Bowl 50 win over Carolina following the 2015 season.

The Lions a have signed unrestricted free agent and LaSalle, Ontario native TE Luke Willson. Willson comes to Detroit after spending five seasons (2013-17) with the Seattle Seahawks. He played in 16 games (seven starts) in 2017 and finished with 15 receptions for 153 yards and a career-high four touchdowns. Drafted by the Seahawks in the fifth round (158th overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft out of Rice University, Willson has played in 72 career games (37 starts). A native of LaSalle, Ontario, his career totals include 89 receptions for 1,129 yards and 11 touchdowns, as well as 13 receptions for 154 yards and one touchdown in nine career postseason games. He was a member of Seattle’s Super Bowl XLVIII win over Denver following the 2013 season.

The Lions have signed free agent CB DeShawn Shead. Shead comes to the Lions after spending his first six years (2012-17) in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks, where he appeared in 54 career games (22 starts) during that span. He participated in two (2013-2014 seasons) Super Bowls with the Seahawks, including Seattle’s SB XLVIII win over Denver.  An undrafted rookie free agent with the Seahawks out of Portland State in 2012, Shead’s career totals include 136 total tackles (100 solo), two interceptions, one sack, 24 pass defenses and three forced fumbles.

The Lions have signed unrestricted free agent LB Christian Jones. Jones comes to Detroit after spending the past four seasons (2014-17) with the Chicago Bears. He finished the 2017 season with a career-high 84 total tackles (57 solo), in addition to two sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Entering his fifth NFL season, Jones has appeared in 63 career games (31 starts), all with the Bears. His career totals include 236 tackles (160 solo), four sacks, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries after originally entering the NFL in 2014 as an undrafted rookie free agent with the Bears out of Florida State.

LB Devon Kennard joins the Lions following a four-year stint (2014-17) with the New York Giants, where he played in 52 games (35 starts) during that span. He finished the 2017 season with 41 total tackles (24 solo), four sacks, two pass defenses and one fumble recovery. Originally drafted by the Giants in the fifth round (174th overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft out of Southern California, Kennard’s career totals include 198 tackles (134 solo), 9.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumbles recoveries and one interception.

Lions have signed unrestricted free agent G Kenny Wiggins. Wiggins comes to Detroit after spending the past four seasons (2014-17) with the Chargers. He started all 16 games in 2017, helping Los Angeles finish with an NFL-low 18 sacks as the Chargers led the League in passing yards per game (276.9). After originally entering the NFL in 2011 with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Fresno State, Wiggins has played in 45 career games (25 starts).

Lions have signed unrestricted free agent RB LeGarrette Blount. Blount’s NFL experience over the last five seasons includes the following teams; New England Patriots (2013, five games in 2014, 2015, 2016), Pittsburgh Steelers (11 games in 2014) and Philadelphia Eagles (2017). During that span he was a member of three Super Bowl Championships, including Super Bowls XLIX and LI with New England and Super Bowl LII with Philadelphia. He appeared in all 16 games (11 starts) for the Eagles in 2017 and finished with 173 carries for 766 yards and two touchdowns, as well as eight receptions for 50 yards and one touchdown. After signing with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2010 out of the University of Oregon, Blount spent three seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2010-12. Entering his ninth NFL season, his career totals include 116 games (54 starts), 1,341 carries for 5,888 yards and 51 touchdowns, as well as 54 receptions for 387 yards and two touchdowns. In 11 postseason games (three starts), he has totaled 140 carries for 600 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Staying

The Lions have re-signed DE Ezekiel Ansah, who was designated as the team’s franchise player February 27. In 14 games (14 starts) last season, Ansah finished with 12.0 sacks, 44 total tackles (39 solo), one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. A first-round draft selection (fifth overall) by the Lions in 2013 out of Brigham Young, his career totals include 73 games (71 starts), 44.0 sacks, 207 total tackles (155 solo), 10 forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. His 44.0 career sacks rank fifth all-time in Lions history (official statistic since 1982).

The Lions have re-signed restricted free agent WR TJ Jones. Jones returns to Detroit after playing in 14 games (six starts) for the Lions in 2017. He finished last season with a career-high 30 receptions, 399 receiving yards and one touchdown. Originally drafted by the Lions in the sixth round (189th overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame, Jones has recorded 45 career receptions, 624 receiving yards and two touchdowns in 27 career games.

The Lions have re-signed CB Nevin Lawson.  Lawson, entering his fifth season with the Lions, started all 15 games in which he played in 2017. He finished last season with 43 total tackles (37 solo), four pass defenses, one forced fumble and his first-career fumble recovery, which he returned for a 44-yard touchdown against Cleveland (11/12). A fourth-round draft selection by the Lions (133rd overall) in the 2014 NFL Draft out of Utah State, Lawson has appeared in 48 career games (40 starts). His career totals include 141 total tackles (120 solo), 20 pass defenses, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and 11 special teams tackles.

Lions also have re-signed LB Nick Bellore.  Bellore, who joined the Lions in 2017 as a free agent, returns to Detroit after appearing in 13 games (two starts) last season. He finished the season with six tackles (five solo) and six special teams tackles. He also recorded his first-career receiving touchdown on a one-yard pass at Baltimore (12/3). Prior to Detroit, Bellore spent four seasons with the New York Jets (2011-14) and two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers (2015-16). In 107 career games (12 starts), he has totaled 87 total tackles (63 solo), one sack, one interception, five pass defenses, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries and 86 special teams tackles.

Lions have re-signed QB Jake Rudock.  Rudock returns to the Lions after originally joining the team as a sixth-round (191st overall) draft selection in 2016 out of the University of Michigan. He appeared in three games last season.

Lions have re-signed RB Zach Zenner.  Zenner returns for his fourth season in Detroit after originally joining the team as an undrafted rookie free agent out of South Dakota State in 2015. He saw action in eight games last season and finished with 14 carries for 26 yards and one touchdown, in addition to four special teams tackles. In 28 career games (five starts), Zenner’s career totals include 119 carries for 420 yards and five touchdowns, as well as 20 receptions for 207 yards.

Lions have re-signed DT Christian Ringo. After beginning 2017 as a member of the Cincinnati Bengals, Ringo joined the Lions practice squad in September 2017 before playing in six games for Detroit last season. A sixth-round (210th overall) draft choice in 2015 by the Green Bay Packers out of Louisiana-Lafayette, he spent his rookie season on the Packers practice squad before playing eight games for Green Bay in 2016.  In 14 career games, Ringo has recorded five tackles and one forced fumble.

Out

The Lions have waived CB Adairius Barnes.

The Lions have released TE Eric Ebron.

The Lions have waived CB Des Lawrence.

The Lions have placed T Emmett Cleary on Reserve-Retired.

Detroit Lions schedule

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