The Detroit Lions are adding more offensive weapons but this time they are focusing on the running game. Reports emerged Saturday that the Detroit Lions have signed former Arizona Cardinal Tight End Darren Fells.
The Lions have signed TE Darren Fells to a one-year deal worth $1.5 million.
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) March 11, 2017
Fells should be a big upgrade to the Lions' running game. One of the better blocking TEs in the NFL.
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) March 11, 2017
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The Lions were rumored to be in on Darren Fells as far back as Thursday but the story faded with the reports the team was interested in Packer free agent Jared Cook.
The Fells signing is a direct attempt to improve the Lions running game after showing continued interest in pass blocking specialist T.J. Lang. Rumors circulated late Friday that T.J. Lang had returned to Detroit for a second round of negotiations. At the time of this post there had been no announcement on a contract between Lang and the Lions.
Just because he hasn’t been asked to catch the football on a regular basis doesn’t mean he can’t. Fells had 14 catches on 18 targets while gaining 154 yards and one touchdown in 2016. That is a catch percentage of 77.8%!
The Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett also opined via Twitter the Lions coaching staff thinks Fells needs to improve his basketball skills.
Asked about playing with Eric Ebron, Fells joked that one of the Lions coaches told him Ebron needed to work on his basketball skills.
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) March 11, 2017
Not sure if this refers to Eric Ebron’s occasional bought with stone hands or some Lions players obsession with who is the best basketball player. Either way having a back-up that can both run block and catch the ball should help the former first round pick improve on the football field.
The Darren Fells signing also signals an end to the Detroit Lions interest in Jared Cook, whom some Lions fans hoped would end up wearing the Honolulu blue and silver. It should also end speculation that the Lions will target a tight end on the first or second day of the draft.