The Detroit Lions announced three linebacker-related roster transactions on Wednesday: signing Joe Bachie from the practice squad to the active roster, signing K.J. Britt from the Patriots’ practice squad to the active roster, and signing Owen Pappoe to the practice squad.
No immediate roster moves were necessary, as the Lions previously opened two spots on their 53-man roster on Tuesday when they placed rookie linebacker Jimmy Rolder on injured reserve and waived rookie safety Bishop Fitzgerald.
Bachie’s promotion from the practice squad opened a spot for Pappoe.
Bachie joined the Lions in April and provided veteran experience throughout training camp at MIKE linebacker and on special teams. He performed well enough in the preseason to be firmly on the roster bubble, and while the Lions released him in cutdowns, they signed him to the practice squad the next day. When it became clear Rolder couldn’t start the season due to injury, the Lions signed Bachie to the active roster for their first two games, then released him in late September and re-signed him to the practice squad.
With Bachie operating as the team’s LB7, the injuries to Jack Campbell and Rolder have created a need for him to step into a larger role moving forward. While he will almost certainly be a fixture on special teams, his experience and positional versatility could put him at LB4 behind Derrick Barnes, Trevor Nowaske, and Malcolm Rodriguez, the three presumed starters.
As for Britt and Pappoe, it will likely take time for them to acclimate to the Lions’ defensive scheme. That said, Britt has plenty of special teams experience, and with the Lions’ preference to keep six linebackers active on game days, he could be active as soon as this Sunday against the Dolphins.
