Lions add veteran edge rusher Bruce Irvin to help lagging pass rush

The Detroit Lions has been, let's say inconsistent, so far this season. Of their 21 sacks, 18 have come over three games with zero or none in the other six. Last Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers was a zero-sack game, and with the trade deadline passed options are thin to add someone who could help.

After placing guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai on IR Tuesday afternoon, the Lions have an open spot on their 53-man roster. As first reported by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Lions signed veteran edge rusher Bruce Irvin later on Tuesday.

As such things go, and per Pelissero, Irvin will start on the Lions' practice squad.

To make the move publicly official, Irvin posted a picture on Instagram showing his locker in the Lions' locker room.

Lions add Bruce Irvin in effort to help lackluster pass rush

Irvin was a first-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks back in 2012. Over 11 NFL seasons, with the Seahawks, Raiders, Falcons, Panthers and Bears, he has 55.5 sacks. He spent last season back for a third stint with the Seahawks, tallying 3.5 sacks, 24 pressures, nine quarterback hits and five tackles for loss over 11 games (10 starts, 400 snaps). So he's got a little something left in the tank.

Irvin was a key piece of Seattle's Super Bowl-winning defense in 2013, as the Seahawks dominated Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII. In 2016 with Oakland, he led the league with six forced fumbles.

The Lions have gotten a total of 4.5 sacks from Charles Harris, Romeo Okwara, John Cominsky, Josh Paschal and Julian Okwara this season, and the younger Okwara has two in five games played after starting the season on IR.

Irvin's best days are behind him at 36 years old, but he's a veteran with playoff experience who can only help a pass rush that needs it badly down the stretch. Time will tell if he makes his Lions debut against the Bears on Sunday.

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