Dan Campbell and the Lions took a liking to Jalen Reeves-Maybin in the coach's first season in Detroit. Now they're bringing him back.
The veteran linebacker and special teams ace has agreed to a deal with the team that drafted him, according to Reeves-Maybin's agent.
After five seasons with the Lions, Reeves-Maybin left for a one-year, $5.25 million deal with the Texans last season. He had played a prominent role on Detroit's defense the year prior, but went back to playing mostly on special teams in Houston.
After logging a career-high 616 defensive snaps in 2021 under Campbell and Aaron Glenn, the second most at linebacker for the Lions, Reeves-Maybin logged just 88 last season for the Texans. But he did play a career-high 390 snaps on special teams, which is where he can be expected to contribute in Detroit.
His return will help the Lions make up for the departure of fellow linebacker Chris Board, who led the team in special teams snaps (359) last season and left this offseason for a two-year, $5 million deal with the Patriots.
At linebacker, the Lions bring back Alex Anzalone, Malcolm Rodriguez and Derrick Barnes and could bolster the room in the draft.
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