Coming off their bye, the Detroit Lions are adding a player. According to Greg Auman of FOX Sports, former Buccaneers' linebacker Cam Gill will sign to the Lions' practice squad on Monday. The team has not yet made the move official.
Update, 1:07 p.m. ET: The Lions have announced some reshuffling of their practice squad, including Gill being signed.
#Lions announce roster moves:
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) October 7, 2024
Released S Erick Hallett and K Matthew McCrane from the Practice Squad.
Signed LB Cam Gill and LB Al-Quadin Muhammad to the Practice Squad.
Al-Quadin Muhammad is also of the edge rusher/SAM linebacker ilk, and he was a sixth-round pick by the New Orleans Saints in 2017, when Lions' head coach Dan Campbell and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn were there.
Gill went undrafted of Wagner in 2020, but he stuck around with the Buccaneers for four seasons. He played in 40 games, primarily as a special teamer (768 special teams snaps, 184 defensive snaps). He missed the entire 2022 season after suffering a Lisfranc injury in the preseason. Despite that lack of action on defense, he had produced a total of 13 pressures and 2.5 sacks in his career.
Gill spent this preseason with the Carolina Panthers, but an ankle injury in the preseason finale led to him being waived with an injury settlement. More recently, he was part of workouts the Miami Dolphins held as they search for edge rusher help.
In a vacuum, the physical profiles of Gill (6-foot-3, 240 pounds) and Muhammad (6-foot-3, 250 pounds) are similar to Derrick Barnes, who is on IR with a knee injury he suffered in Week 3. They could enter the mix for the SAM linebacker role the Lions are trying to fill in Barnes' absence.
Signings might mark the end for James Houston as a Lion
Speaking of that SAM linebacker role, the Lions tabled the idea of James Houston filling it during the preseason. He was on the roster bubble, but a sack in the preseason finale was enough to win him a spot over others who had better camps and preseasons.
Ever since then head coach Dan Campbell has tried to talk around the idea Houston isn't seen as someone who can contribute, leaning into insignificant catch-phrases like "he's here, he's working". Sometimes, Campbell says it all by saying little or nothing.
Houston was a healthy scratch in two of the first three games this season, and he played just three snaps in Week 2. In Week 4, with Marcus Davenport's injury theoretically opening up an opportunity, Houston played 14 snaps and had more penalties than pressures or tackles.
The Lions have an open spot on their 53-man roster, and it's still uncertain how they'll fill it.
Bringing in Gill and Muhammad as potential options at SAM linebacker might (should?) mean Houston's time as a Detroit Lion is coming to an end as the team comes out of the bye week.