Lions leaning on practice squad in Dallas, signing 1 player and elevating 2
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Detroit Lions are playing for seeding, and calling on a trio of practice-squad players to help them do it.
Detroit announced on Saturday afternoon it is signing tight end Anthony Firsker to the 53-man roster, plus elevating veteran defensive linemen Bruce Irvin and Tyson Alualu for the game tonight against the Dallas Cowboys.
Firkser made his Lions debut last week while filling in for the injured Brock Wright. He played just two snaps on offense but added another 10 on special teams in the 30-24 win against Minnesota. With Wright out for another week because of a hip injury, Firkser is now being added to the 53-man roster for more insurance. He’ll be the third tight end behind Sam LaPorta and James Mitchell.
On defense, the Lions are adding some experience to their front. Irvin, 36, is a veteran pass rusher who was disruptive in his lone appearance in Detroit.
In a game against New Orleans earlier this month, Irvin sacked Derek Carr once and took him out of the game with a big hit on another play, although drew a flag for roughing the passer in the process.
Irvin is now out of practice-squad elevations, and will have to be signed to the 53-man roster to play again for the Lions.
Detroit is also elevating Alualu, a 14th-year veteran who has made 113 career starts for Jacksonville and Pittsburgh. He’ll provided some extra beef while Alim McNeill misses another game on injured reserve.
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Former Detroit Lions CB among 6 killed in Houston car wreck
According to multiple reports, former NFL cornerback D.J. Hayden was one of six people killed on Saturday morning in Houston after a multiple-car collision. A car sped through a red light and caused a collision with another vehicle, resulting in the deaths of Hayden and his former college teammates at the University of Houston, Zach McMillian and Ralph Oragwu. Hayden was 33 years old.
Per The Houston Chronicle, the driver who ran the red light, causing the collision, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police stated that in total, four people died at the accident site, with two more dying after being transported to the hospital.
Hayden entered the NFL as the No. 12 overall pick in the 2013 draft by the former Oakland Raiders. After spending four seasons in Oakland, Hayden signed a one-year deal with the Detroit Lions in 2017. Following the Lions’ training camp that season, he became their third cornerback behind Darius Slay and Nevin Lawson.
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