Lions add third RB, place Julian Okwara on IR
Blough back with practice squad as Lions’ No. 3 QB
The Lions are down to two running backs no more.
The Lions re-signed running back Craig Reynolds on Thursday and placed linebacker Julian Okwara on injured reserve in a move that was expected after roster cuts this week.
The Lions kept just two tailbacks, David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs (plus fullback Jason Cabinda) and 12 defensive linemen on their initial 53-man roster, set on Tuesday. They cut Reynolds, but as a veteran with at least four years of experience, he was not subject to waivers.
Okwara left last week’s preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers with what appeared to be an arm injury, and Lions coach Dan Campbell said Monday he would miss time.
The Lions had to carry Okwara for at least one day after setting their 53-man roster so he would be eligible to play again this year.
Okwara, in the final year of his rookie contract, has never played more than 13 games in a season. He had two sacks and 17 tackles last year.
The Lions also added to their practice squad Thursday, officially signing quarterback David Blough, running back Zonovan Knight, receiver Daurice Fountain, guard Michael Niese and defensive linemen Quinton Bohanna and Raymond Johnson to the unit.
Lions re-sign Blough to practice squad as No. 3 QB
David Blough turned down a spot on the Lions practice squad last summer after he was beaten out for the backup job by Tim Boyle.
Blough spent time with the Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals during the season, and when he was released by the Cardinals at
roster cuts this week, he found a home in Detroit once again.
The Lions re-signed Blough to their practice squad Thursday.
Blough will open the season as the Lions’ No. 3 quarterback, behind Jared Goff and Teddy Bridgewater. Rookie third-round pick Hendon Hooker is expected back around midseason after starting the year on the non-football injury
list, and the Lions cut undrafted rookie Adrian Martinez, who will not return on practice squad, this week. Nate Sudfeld suffered a torn ACL in the preseason finale and was placed on injured reserve.
Blough provides valuable experience as a No. 3 quarterback and has familiarity with offensive coordinator Ben Johnson’s system.
He started two games for the Cardinals last
season after Kyler Murray was lost to a torn ACL, when he completed 65.5% of his passes for 402 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. In his first stint with the Lions in 2019-21,
Blough went 0-5 as a starter and attempted 184 passes.