Six months after a very scary injury situation, Saivion Smith has been re-signed by the Detroit Lions.
Injuries, etc. in the Detroit Lions secondary led to an opportunity for Saivion Smith last season in Week 5 against the New England Patriots. On the second play of the game though, a routine-looking hit and a scary looking injury led to him being taken off the field in an ambulance.
Monday morning, six months after that scary day, as first reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Lions announced they have re-signed Smith.
Smith originally joined the Lions as a waiver claim in 2021, and he signed a futures deal to stick around in 2022.
Smith had neck surgery to fix a disc issue, and it was unclear (and unimportant) if he’d ever play football again. The move to re-sign him obviously confirms he has been medically cleared to play and he can pass a physical.
In late October, three weeks after the injury, Smith recounted his ordeal.
"It was scary,” Smith said. “That was the scariest thing of my life.”I could see everything, I could hear everything, I saw my teammates on the sideline,” Smith said. “But I just couldn’t move. I was trying to extend my arms, move my legs. I couldn’t do nothing for like 20 seconds.”I guess a bone in my body hit my spine and caused me to lock up like that,”"
Lions add Saivion Smith back to the mix in newly very deep secondary
The Lions attacked their biggest weakness in free agency, signing Cameron Sutton, Emmanuel Moseley and C.J. Gardner Johnson to bolster the secondary. The draft may also bring an addition or two.
Smith has primarily been a cornerback by trade, but that start against the Patriots last season was at safety. That position versatility will heighten his chances to make the Lions’ 53-man roster. But that his chances to make the roster is even a conversation after that scary scene in Foxboro last fall is remarkable.