The Detroit Lions are adding a player after their bye. Former Buccaneers linebacker Cam Gill will sign with the Lions practice squad on Monday, according to FOX Sports’ Greg Auman. The group has not yet formally announced the change.Gill spent four seasons with the Buccaneers despite not being selected by Wagner in the 2020 draft. With 768 special teams snaps and 184 defensive snaps, he was mostly used as a special teams player in 40 games. Due to a Lisfranc injury sustained during the preseason, he was sidelined for the whole 2022 campaign. In spite of his paucity of defensive activity, he finished his career with 13 pressures and 2.5 sacks.
Gill played for the Carolina Panthers during the preseason, but he was waived with an injury settlement after suffering an ankle injury in the season’s final game. He participated in the Miami Dolphins’ most recent sessions as they look for assistance with edge rushers.
In a vacuum, Derrick Barnes, who is on injured reserve due to a knee injury sustained in Week 3, and Gill share a similar physical profile (6-foot-3, 240 pounds). The Lions are seeking to fill Barnes’ void at SAM linebacker, and Gill might be a good match for that position.
In relation to that SAM linebacker position, the Lions proposed throughout the preseason that James Houston take it on. Despite having a poor camp and preseason, he was on the verge of making the team thanks to a sack in the season finale.
Head coach Dan Campbell has since attempted to dispel the notion that Houston isn’t viewed as a player who can make a meaningful contribution by using meaningless platitudes like “he’s here, he’s working”. At times, Campbell speaks volumes with few or no words.
Houston only saw three snaps in Week 2 and was a healthy scratch in two of the team’s first three games this season. Despite the possibility of an opportunity presented by Marcus Davenport’s injury in Week 4, Houston only played 14 snaps and had more penalties than pressures or tackles.
The Lions have an available slot on their 53-man roster. It appears like Gill’s practice squad place will be filled by signing someone to the active roster.He need not be involved in any way in the corresponding move or moves. However, as the team exits the bye week, adding Gill as a possible option at SAM linebacker might (should?) suggest Houston’s days as a Detroit Lion are running out.
