The Lions found their next kicker on the waiver wire Wednesday in Austin Seibert. And they may have found another receiver in KhaDarel Hodge.
Detroit claimed Hodge after he was waived Tuesday by the Browns, and a few of the club's key decision-makers know him well.
GM Brad Holmes and assistant GM Ray Agnew held key roles with the Rams when LA signed Hodge in 2018 as an undrafted free agent out of Prairie View A&M; Hodge went on to play for the team in Super Bowl LIII. And Lions senior personnel executive John Dorsey was GM of the Browns when Cleveland claimed Hodge off waivers in 2019; he would play 25 games for the team over the next two seasons.
The 6'2 Hodge has some pass-catching ability, and the Lions could use it. He caught four passes for 63 yards and two touchdowns in two preseason games this year, and he had 11 receptions -- all for first downs -- and 180 yards in nine games last season. He also led the Browns in special teams tackles the year prior. The Lions already have six receivers on their 53-man roster after trading for Trinity Benson Tuesday, but jobs are up for grabs beyond Tyrell Williams.
"A lot more to prove!" Hodge said Tuesday on Twitter after Cleveland cut him lose. He wound up in the right place to, well, prove it.
The Lions also signed QB Steven Montez to their practice squad Wednesday after he was waived by the Washington Football Team. Montez, a college star at Colorado, will help Detroit account for the loss of backup QB Tim Boyle, who's out for the next six to eight weeks with a broken thumb. Montez spent most of last season on Washington's practice squad and did not see game action. David Blough remains the No. 2 in Detroit.
To fortify their tight end depth, the Lions also claimed Shane Zylstra from the Vikings and added him to the practice squad Wednesday. Zylstra is a former college receiver who put up big numbers at Minnesota State.