It appears the Detroit Lions will be adding even more linebacker depth to the team in the aftermath of serious injuries to Jack Campbell and Jimmy Rolder. In addition to reportedly signing KJ Britt from the Patriots’ practice squad, the Lions will also be signing linebacker Owen Pappoe (physical pending), according to a report from CBS Sports.
Pappoe, who visited the Lions on Tuesday per the transaction wire, was a third-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2023. Over the next three years, Pappoe played in nearly every game for Arizona (49 total), mostly on special teams—945 snaps on teams, 341 on defense.
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Pappoe was waived by the Cardinals as part of their roster cuts this year, but he was claimed by the Tennessee Titans the next day. He appeared in one game before the Titans released him a month ago.
Pappoe gives the Lions extra depth on special teams, and he also has an intriguing athletic profile.
It will be interesting to see how the Lions’ linebacker room shakes out with Rolder out of the year and Campbell out indefinitely. On Monday, Lions coach Dan Campbell seemed to express confidence in three linebackers who will likely become the team’s starters: Derrick Barnes, Malcolm Rodriguez, and Trevor Nowaske.
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“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 yet to make any of their new linebacker signings official, and there will be some roster maneuvering necessary. On Tuesday, they put Rolder on injured reserve and waived safety Bishop Fitzgerald, creating two spots on the 53-man roster. Britt will likely take up one of those spots, but the Lions will also have to create a spot on the practice squad for Pappoe. Therefore, it seems likely that Detroit will promote a player from the practice squad to fill the 53-man vacancy and create the spot for Pappoe. Seven-year veteran linebacker Joe Bachie is the most obvious choice, but we’ll have to wait until later Wednesday, when the Lions are likely to make these moves official.
