The Detroit Lions have had an open spot on their 90-man roster since releasing kicker James Turner following OTAs. Before veterans fully report on Tuesday, that spot has been filled. According to NFL insider Aaron Wilson, the Lions have signed veteran guard Ike Boettger.
The Lions announced the move shortly after Wilson's report.
#Lions have signed OL Ike Boettger.
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) July 22, 2024
Boettger went undrafted out of Iowa, where he played guard and tackle, in 2018. He signed with the Buffalo Bills, who waived him after training camp. The Kansas City Chiefs claimed and waived him in September that year, and he ended up back with the Bills and played four games as a reserve guard.
After playing just two games for the Bills in 2019, Boettger started 17 regular season games for them over the following two seasons. He also started all three playoff games for Buffalo in 2020, including the AFC Championship Game. He has started games at both guard spots.
According to Pro Football Focus, Boettger did not allow a sack while playing 623 offensive snaps in 2020 (a 65.3 overall grade that year). In 2021, he played 636 offensive snaps and allowed one sack while earning a 59.8 overall grade.
Boettger spent most of the 2022 season on the PUP list, then he did not make the Bills' roster last year. He landed on the Indianapolis Colts' practice squad, eventually playing eight special teams snaps over two games for them last season.
Lions add veteran guard before training camp
The Lions placed rookie offensive lineman Giovanni Manu on the Active/NFI list to start training camp. So that feels like a factor in the addition of Boettger, along with a general lack of experience behind the starters at guard.
There's a chance Boettger, with versatility and experience as his primary assets, makes a legit push for a spot on the Lions' 53-man roster. It's just as likely he's not around very long though, and he ends up as the definition of a camp body.