As the Detroit Lions look to continue their push to be the No. 1 seed in the NFC, they’re bulking up their defense.
On Tuesday, NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero reported that the Lions had signed Bruce Irvin to their practice squad. In heading to Detroit, Irvin will not be not reuniting with any of his former Seattle Seahawks or Las Vegas Raiders defensive coaches, or counterparts, so there’s not a sense of familiarity with the defense, but rather a predictable need for a veteran pass-rusher.
In the team’s 41-38 win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 10, the Lions failed to get much — if any — pressure against Justin Herbert and Co. The team failed to sack the Chargers quarterback once in its 3-point win, as there’s not much pass rush juice on the defensive front beyond that of Aidan Hutchinson. The team clearly misses James Houston, and the 36-year-old Irvin is a capable body, who can help alleviate some of those concerns.
A former 2012 first-round pick of the Seahawks, Irvin has had three separate stints with the team that drafted him. Most recently, he started 10 games for Seattle last season, in which he recorded 3.5 sacks. He’s also spent time with the Raiders, Falcons, Panthers, and Bears. And his career will seemingly continue in The Motor City.
It remains to be seen if the veteran sack artist will see the field in Detroit, but it’s certainly a move that can only help, not hinder, the Lions’ depth chart.
[PFT]
