Bruce Irvin, past first-round pass rusher, has signed with the Detroit Lions.
The Detroit Lions have taken a step toward strengthening their pass rush defense. Bruce Irvin, a seasoned pass rusher, is 36 years old, and the Lions are reportedly signing him, per a Tom Pelissero report.
Pelissero reports that Irvin will join the team as a practice squad member. Despite putting Halapoulivaati Vaitai on injured reserve this week, the Lions do have a spot available on their 53-man roster.
Irvin, a first-round selection in 2012, has 11 seasons of playing experience and 55.5 sacks total. He made ten starts for the Seattle Seahawks, the team that originally selected him, in the previous season. Irvin still has some juice left in him because during that time he recorded 24 pressures, 3.5 sacks, five tackles for loss, and nine quarterback hits.
The Lions, who rank t-21st in sacks for the season, have had difficulty producing a reliable pass rush this year. The Lions have received 4.5 sacks from the combined efforts of Julian Okwara, Charles Harris, John Cominsky, Josh Pachal, and Romeo Okwara, despite the excellent play of second-year edge defender Aidan Hutchinson.
Coach Dan Campbell stated earlier in the day on 97.1 The Ticket that general manager Brad Holmes is constantly searching for roster improvements.
Campbell remarked, “Brad is always staring at guys like that.” He’s looking if he believes they can bring something to us. We’re always on the lookout for someone who can offer something new to us, something that will help us get better, or another option to aid us in any part of the game
NEW DELHI: Veteran linebacker Bruce Irvin has joined the Detroit Lions practice squad. The Lions made this move in an effort to strengthen their defensive lineup, especially in the pass-rush department, by adding depth and experience.
After working out on Tuesday, Irvin—a seasoned player who has won a Super Bowl—was extended an offer by the Lions to join the practice squad.
Alongside Irvin, the Lions also signed veteran offensive linemanMichael Schofield and cornerback Kindle Vildor.
The Lions’ pass-rush has shown inconsistencies throughout the season, prompting the team to seek additional support for their defensive unit. While rookie Aidan Hutchinson leads the team with 4.5 sacks, the collective efforts of other players have yet to match that production.
The Lions are hoping that Irvin’s arrival will provide a much-needed boost to their pass-rushing capabilities since they are without talented second-year rusher James Houston, who is out for the season.
It’s critical to have depth in the pass-rushing department, as head coach Dan Campbell noted, saying that “you can never have too many rushers in your building.” He said that Irvin’s power, quick first step, and ability to bend could be beneficial to the Lions’ defensive efforts.
Irvin’s arrival is expected to provide the Lions with much-needed boost to their pass-rushing capabilities, as they will be without talented second-year rusher James Houston for the foreseeable future.
The head coach, Dan Campbell, stressed the value of depth in the pass-rushing unit, saying, “You can never have too many rushers in your building.” The Lions’ defensive efforts could benefit from Irvin’s power, quick first step, and bending ability, according to him.
