Lions' defensive line addition clearly impressed them earlier this season

Based on reports from Friday and what head coach Dan Campbell said earlier in the day, the series of roster moves the Detroit Lions announced on Saturday afternoon were mostly clear and well-known/expected.

Linebacker Kwon Alexander and defensive lineman Jonah Williams were signed to the 53-man roster, off the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Rams practice squads respectively. In corresponding moves, linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez and defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo were placed on IR.

But another roster move also came. Wide receiver Maurice Alexander was waived, and defensive lineman Myles Adams was signed to the 53-man roster off the Seattle Seahawks' practice squad.

With Josh Paschal and Levi Onwuzurike both questionable for Week 14 against the Green Bay Packers, it made sense to add another defensive lineman to the mix. The more surprising tentacle is waiving Alexander, who handled punt return duties in place of the injured Kalif Raymond on Thanksgiving Day.

Myles Adams clearly impressed the Lions back in Week 4

Originally signed by the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent out of Rice in 2020, Adams was cut by Carolina that September and landed with the Seahawks, where he had been ever since. He played 26 games over the last four seasons for Seattle, with one start and one career sack. With Seattle changing from a 4-3 to a 3-4 base scheme under head coach Mike Macdonald this year, Adams had his role reduced. He last suited up in Week 5.

Adams (6-foot-2, 285 pounds) saw his heaviest action this season against the Lions back in Week 4 (20 defensive snaps), with three tackles, one quarterback hurry and one defensive stop. His 74.4 overall Pro Football Focus grade from the game was solid. Overall this season he has a 40.4 overall PFF grade, with a 37.9 run defense grade and a 57.4 pass rush grade. He brings more to the table as a pass rusher than he does as a run defender.

Adams is mostly an interior defensive lineman (1-technique, 3-technique), but he can kick out to play 5-technique defensive end occasionally.

Making impactful additions at this point in the season is next to impossible. But the Lions have game tape from a good game Adams played against them earlier this season, and he clearly impressed them enough for them to give him a shot to help an injury-depleted defensive front.