After adding 15 players to their initial practice squad on Wednesday, the Detroit Lions signed their 16th player—former Vikings and Raiders pass rusher, Andre Carter II—on Thursday and have reached their maximum player allotment.
A three-year starting defensive end at Army, Carter entered the NFL Draft following a change in legislation allowing individuals to defer service in order to pursue an NFL career. Unfortunately, he would go undrafted, but Carter was able to land with the Vikings on an UDFA
contract. Carter impressed in training camp and earned a spot on the active roster and played in 12 games during his rookie season. Last year, Carter failed to make the active roster but was signed to the Vikings’ practice squad, only to be signed off the practice squad by the Raiders, where he would go on to play in three games.
At 6-foot-6, 256 pounds, Carter flashed pass-rushing skills at Army—registering 15.5 sacks as a senior—as well as in each of his training camps for the Vikings and Raiders. This past preseason, he registered two sacks and seven pressures (per PFF) and was in contention for a spot on the active roster. It wouldn’t work out for Carter, and he opted to return to the NFC North for another opportunity to prove himself on a practice squad.
With the addition of Carter, here is the full 16-man Lions practice squad headed into the 2025 season:
- RB Jacob Saylors
- TE Zach Horton
- WR Jackson Meeks
- WR Tom Kennedy
- WR Ronnie Bell
- OL Dan Skipper
- OL Trystan Colon
- OL Mason Miller
- OL Michael Niese
- EDGE Isaac Ukwu
- EDGE Andre Carter II
- DT Myles Adams
- DT Keith Cooper Jr.
- LB Anthony Pittman
- DB Erick Hallett
- S Loren Strickland
