Ahead of its week 4 matchup at Ford Field against the Cleveland Browns, the Detroit Lions have added depth to the tight end and defensive line. After making his debut in Monday night's 38-30 win over the Baltimore Ravens, the Lions signed Ross Dwelley to their tight end room.
Dwelley's career in the NFL prior to the Lions
Dwelley was recently on the Lions' practice squad after tight end Shane Zylstra was placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury. Before his time with the Lions, Dwelley played six seasons with the San Francisco 49ers and one last year with the Atlanta Falcons.
During his eight seasons in the NFL, Dwelley has collected 45 receptions for 523 yards and five touchdowns. Dwelley will play tight end on the Lions behind Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright and will also have a role on special teams. In his first appearance for the Lions against the Ravens on Monday night, Dwelley appeared on four offensive reps and 12 on special teams.
Dwelley, while not expected to get valuable playing time on offense as a tight end, could be a crucial piece for the Lions' special teams unit moving forward.
Lions sign veteran defensive lineman to practice squad
In addition to the signing of Dwelley, the Lions signed veteran defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson to their practice squad. Jefferson was added to the Lions' practice squad after an impressive tryout with Detroit on Tuesday.
The Seattle Seahawks drafted Jefferson out of Maryland in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft, and the defensive lineman has played for five other NFL teams in his nine-year career. Jefferson most recently played for the Cleveland Browns and the Buffalo Bills in 2024, and also has appearances with the Buffalo Bills, Las Vegas Raiders, and New York Jets. In his career, Jefferson has recorded 206 total tackles, 28.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles.
Given his experience, it'll be interesting to see if Jefferson can make the jump from the practice squad to the defensive line rotation for the Lions. Jefferson may be the first defensive lineman to make the jump to the roster if a notable player in the room gets injured.