Detroit Lions sign veteran offensive tackle Kendall Lamm

Apparently in search of some experience to add to the competition for backup offensive tackle spots, the Detroit Lions have signed Kendall Lamm.

The Detroit Lions don’t need a starting offensive tackle, not that they’d find many good candidates in August. But on Monday they added some experienced depth to the mix at the position, with Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reporting the Lions have signed Kendall Lamm after a workout.

In a corresponding move, undrafted rookie offensive tackle Zein Obeid is retiring. Obeid is the fourth Lions player to retire this offseason.

Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell have the starting tackle spots locked down, and it seems Matt Nelson seems to have a leg up to be the No. 3/swing tackle again for better or worse. The No. 4 tackle spot is up for grabs, with undrafted rookie Obinna Eze and Dan Skipper not showing well thus far in camp (per Jeff Risdon of Lions Wire).

Lamm came into the league as an undrafted free agent with the Houston Texans in 2015. He spent last season with the Tennessee Titans, appearing in 12 games with one start. He was released by the Titans in March.

Kendall Lamm adds some experience to Lions offensive tackle competition

Lamm spent four seasons with the Texans to start his career, highlighted by 13 starts at right tackle in 2018. He then spent two seasons (2019 and 2020) with the Cleveland Browns as a backup, with three starts and 19 total games played over that time. In 2020, he caught a touchdown pass from Baker Mayfield on a trick play–the second of his two career receptions.

Over seven NFL seasons, the 30-year old Lamm has played in 86 games and started 28.

Lamm could very well wind up sticking on the Lions’ 53-man roster as an experienced backup tackle, with Eze ultimately stashed on the practice squad if they can get him through waivers.