The Detroit Lions signed defensive lineman Jeffrey M'ba to their practice squad on Thursday.
The 27-year-old signed with the Washington Commanders as an undrafted free agent out of SMU last spring. The Commanders waived M'ba as part of its 53-man roster cuts ahead of the 2026 season.
The Lions got a firsthand look at M'ba during the preseason. M'ba registered three tackles and a pass defended in the Lions' 17-13 win over the Commanders in Week 2 of the 2026 preseason on Aug. 22. Across the Commanders' three preseason games against the Dolphins, Lions, and Ravens, M'ba logged 84 defensive snaps, totaling eight tackles, a pass defended, and a quarterback hit.
In his 2025 season at SMU, M'ba started 12 games and totaled 42 tackles, 7.5 tackles for
loss, and five sacks. He was an honorable mention All-ACC member.
A 6-foot-6, 312-pound rookie, M'ba grew up in Gabon, Africa. M'ba played three years of football in France before coming to the United States
Lions have signed DL Jeffrey M’ba to the Practice Squad. pic.twitter.com/YnGyKWFOqD
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) October 8, 2026
He began his collegiate journey at Independence Community College in Kansas, where he tallied 15 tackles for loss and three sacks across 13 games in the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
M'ba would head to Auburn for the 2022 college football season, appearing in 10 games and registering seven tackles, one sack, and a forced fumble. He would transfer to Purdue for the 2023 and 2024 seasons, tallying 46 tackles, three tackles for loss, and a sack in those two seasons with the Boilermakers.
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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Detroit Lions sign former Commanders DL to practice squad
