Almost a month after the Detroit Lions let him go, Da’Shawn Hand has landed with a playoff contender.
Da’Shawn Hand started this season on IR with the Detroit Lions, then played three games before going on IR with the same groin injury. In late-November, the Lions released their 2018 fourth-round pick with an injury settlement.
The move to release Hand came with the idea he would eventually be healthy again this season. As NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported at the time, playoff contending teams would possibly have interest if he was able to play.
Hand worked out for the Indianapolis Colts on Monday. Tuesday morning, the Colts added him to their practice squad.
We have signed DT Da’Shawn Hand to the practice squad and released CB Darqueze Dennard from the practice squad.
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) December 21, 2021
Da’Shawn Hand can certainly help the Colts defense
With COVID-19 becoming a huge thing for NFL teams, there is not such thing as having enough potentially capable players at any position. The Colts have a top-12 scoring defense this season. But they’re middle of the pack against the run (109.6 yards allowed per game, 14th in the league pending the two games left in Week 15), and their pass rush is among the all-around least productive in the league.
When he was most healthy as a Lion, as a rookie in 2018, Hand had three sacks, six hurries, nine quarterback pressures and four tackles for loss in 13 games. So the talent is there, but five IR stints for different injuries derailed his potential in Detroit.
The Colts have won eight of 11 games since an 0-3 start this season, with wins in five of their last six to come within a game of the Tennessee Titans in the AFC South. So fortifying their depth for the stretch run and a possible playoff game or two is well worth it, and Hand also now has a chance to play at some point over the rest of this season for a contending team.