The Detroit Lions are lining up another addition at linebacker as they try to patch together the position after the injuries to Jack Campbell and Jimmy Rolder.
Along with the reported signing of KJ Britt from the Patriots’ practice squad, the Lions are also expected to add Owen Pappoe to their practice squad, according to CBS Sports. Pappoe’s visit to Detroit on Tuesday showed up on the transaction wire, and the move is pending a physical.
Pappoe entered the league as a third-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2023. Over the next three years, he suited up in almost every game Arizona played, appearing in 49 total. Most of his work came on special teams, where he logged 945 snaps, while adding 341 snaps on defense.
Arizona waived Pappoe during roster cuts this year, and the Tennessee Titans claimed him the next day. He played in one game for Tennessee before being released a month ago.
For Detroit, the appeal is pretty clear: more special teams help and a linebacker with an interesting athletic profile.
The bigger question is how the room looks once the dust settles. With Rolder out for the year and Campbell out indefinitely, Lions coach Dan Campbell pointed Monday to a group that appears set to carry the load.
“Luckily we have some depth in there with Rodrigo and Nowaske and Barnes,” Campbell said. “Those three guys and Amen (Ogbongbemiga)’s been up for us, which is good. And then we have got (LB Joe) Bachie ready to roll.”
Detroit has not officially announced any of the new linebacker moves yet, and the roster math still has to be sorted out. On Tuesday, the Lions placed Rolder on injured reserve and waived safety Bishop Fitzgerald, opening two spots on the 53-man roster. Britt should fill one of them, but the team still needs room on the practice squad for Pappoe.
That likely means another practice squad move is coming, with a promotion needed to clear space. Seven-year veteran Joe Bachie looks like the most natural candidate, though the Lions are expected to make everything official later Wednesday.
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