Detroit Lions Roster Bubble: Defensive Tackle

Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Andre Fluellen, 3rd round pick out of Florida State in 2008
2014 stats:  8 Games, 10 tackles, 2.0 sack, 1 FF
Career Stats:  75 Games, 64 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 1 FF

Andre Fluellen was actually drafted BEFORE Cliff Avril in the dark ages, 2008.  Drafted to become an eventual starter in the middle, Fluellen never delivered on the promise he had coming out of Florida State.  Nearly half of his career sack total came in 2014, which speaks as much to his fit in the new defensive system as his unreliability as a long-term contributor.

More from SideLion Report

• Top 5 revenge games on the Detroit Lions 2023 schedule
• Lions center Frank Ragnow optimistic about continuing to play through toe injury
• Detroit Lions 2023 preseason schedule: Dates, times and opponents
• A new contract extension projection for Lions quarterback Jared Goff
• 4 wide receivers the Detroit Lions could still look to acquire this offseason

Fluellen has been cut and re-signed more times than any player on the team.  It’s pretty much a given that he’s on the Detroit Lions roster bubble, and it’s always a possibility he will be cut and brought back even if it happens multiple times. As a player, he falls into the ‘versatile’ category as he can theoretically play both defensive tackle and defensive end though he’s never been very good at either and only ever flashed inside.

Chances of returning?

There’s almost no chance he isn’t in a Lions uniform at some point in 2015.  Likely to enter camp as the team’s #3 DT, Fluellen will once again get a chance to show that he can stick with the team and contribute.  For the first time since he was drafted 7 years ago, I’m actually confident it might happen this time.  Fluellen finally looked like he belonged, and was able to push other players on this list down the depth chart despite being an injury signing.

Next: CJ Mosley