Report: Lions signing former Pro Bowl LB to help injured defense

The Detroit Lions are reportedly signing former Pro Bowl linebacker Kwon Alexander from the Broncos’ practice squad.

The Detroit Lions are wasting no time in building reinforcements for their injury-riddled defense. According to a report from Adam Schefter, the Lions are signing veteran Kwon Alexander from the Denver Broncos’ practice squad.

Alexander was a fourth-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers back in 2015 and has had a pretty strong 10-year career, including a Pro Bowl appearance back in 2017. Over his time in the NFL, he has started 90 games, and made 639 tackles (54 for loss), 13.5 sacks, and 34 passes defended.

That said, he has dealt with some serious injuries in his career. He tore his Achilles late in the 2020 season, missed a month in 2021 with an elbow injury, and tore his Achilles again in November of 2023 (this time to the other leg).

However, he has started two games for the Denver Broncos this season and even earned a 92.5 PFF grade in Week 9 against the Baltimore Ravens.

Alexander also has a connection with the coaching staff, as he spent two years with the New Orleans Saints from 2020 to 2021.

At 6-foot-1, 227 pounds, Alexander is on the undersized end of the spectrum when it comes to linebackers, but that body type is actually a strong replacement for Malcolm Rodriguez, who reportedly suffered a torn ACL on Thanksgiving against the Chicago Bears. Rodriguez is 5-foot-11, 234 pounds.

Alexander will join a linebacking corps that is looking to replace the snaps left by several injured players, including Alex Anzalone (IR, broken forearm), Jalen Reeves-Maybin (IR, neck injury), Derrick Barnes (IR, knee), and Rodriguez. Other players who will fill in include Jack Campbell, David Long, Ezekiel Turner, and Trevor Nowaske.