The Detroit Lions just made some moves on the practice squad Tuesday, bringing back defensive lineman Aidan Keanaaina. That’s a familiar name, especially after he already spent some time with them this year, and it means one spot had to open up. To make room, the Lions cut defensive lineman Chris Smith from their practice squad.
Keanaaina’s Comeback Story After Early Season Injury
So, who is Aidan Keanaaina? He’s a 6-foot-3, 320-pound defensive lineman out of Cal, and he first joined the Lions as an undrafted free agent right after the 2026 NFL Draft. But then, rough luck, he suffered an undisclosed injury and was waived from injured reserve with an injury settlement in mid-August. Fast forward to now, and the 24-year-old is getting another shot on the practice squad.
His college career was solid, too. Across 36 games and six seasons playing for both Cal and Notre Dame, Keanaaina racked up 112 tackles, 42 of those solo. He added 6.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and even a pass defensed. His 2025 season at Cal was particularly strong, where he started all 13 games, hitting 56 tackles (19 solo), 2.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks, earning himself an honorable mention All-ACC nod. This guy, originally from Denver, Colorado, clearly brings some experience to the table.
Chris Smith Out After Four Seasons With The Lions
The corresponding move was the release of defensive lineman Chris Smith. Smith, also an undrafted free agent from Notre Dame, originally signed with the Lions in 2023. He’s been a part of the Lions’ organization for the past four seasons, which is a pretty decent run for an UDFA. In 2024, he played in five games, where he managed two tackles and one quarterback hit. Smith, who is 6-foot-1, 320-pounds, also has a hometown connection to Detroit. It’s always tough to see a guy go, especially one who’s been around the team for a while.
These are the kind of depth chart shuffles that happen all season, but they matter. Every spot counts, and adding Keanaaina back shows the team clearly sees something they like in him, even after that injury earlier this year. The Lions are back in action on Sunday, October 25, against the Green Bay Packers at 4:25 p.m. ET on Fox. It will be interesting to see how these roster adjustments play out as the season moves forward.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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