Boom. Just like that, veteran linebacker Damone Clark’s season is essentially over for the Lions, with the team officially placing him on injured reserve Tuesday. Coach Dan Campbell himself said Clark is “done indefinitely,” meaning unless there’s some wild injury settlement later, he’s probably spending the whole season on Detroit’s IR. Man, that’s a tough break for a guy who started training camp looking like a serious contributor, even cracking the top-6 linebackers.
Clark’s Injury Creates A Battle Royal For Roster Spots
Clark’s absence opens things wide open in the linebacker room, and you gotta feel for the guy. While he’s been sidelined, the Lions went out and signed Devin White, which was a huge move. But even bigger, some of the reserve linebackers have seriously upped their game. Erick Hunter, Joe Bachie, and Troy Reeder have all leveled up, which is exactly what you want to see. With Clark out of the picture, and if rookie Jimmy Rolder also ends up on injured reserve/return, this situation creates a golden opportunity for one of those three reserves to claw their way onto the 53-man roster. It’s a brutal part of the business, but these guys are fighting for their careers right now.
Lions Shore Up Center Depth With Gus Hartwig Signing
In other news, the Lions also announced they signed center Gus Hartwig to their 90-man roster. This move was all about depth, and let’s be real, the Lions needed it bad. With starting center Cade Mays out with a wrist injury, and reserve center Michael getting hurt in last Saturday’s preseason game and spotted on crutches, Detroit was down to just two true centers: presumed interim starter Juice Scruggs and Seth McLaughlin. Hartwig, an undrafted guy from Purdue in 2025, started 48 games in college and signed with the Jets after. He missed his rookie season on IR due to an early camp leg injury, then got released by the Jets after spring camp this year. He’s a zone-based guy who won with smarts and lateral quickness in college, but he’s struggled with his anchor against power, much like McLaughlin. Still, signing him means the Lions can roll three offensive lines for the final week of training camp, which is crucial for evaluation. If he can impress, he might even snag a practice squad spot.
With just three training camp practices and one final preseason game left before Sunday’s final cuts, every snap, every drill, and every player’s performance is absolutely critical. It’s crunch time.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pride of Detroit.
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