Get this: Joe Bachie is back on the Detroit Lions’ active roster, straight off the practice squad! This isn’t just a simple transaction either. The Lions also snagged K.J. Britt from the Patriots’ practice squad for their active roster and added Owen Pappoe to their own practice squad, all thanks to some rough injury luck hitting their linebacker corps. These moves went down on Wednesday, coming right after the team opened up two spots on Tuesday by placing rookie linebacker Jimmy Rolder on injured reserve and waiving rookie safety Bishop Fitzgerald. Bachie’s promotion from the practice squad specifically cleared the way for Pappoe to join up.
Bachie’s Rollercoaster Season Lands Him Back In The Mix
Man, Bachie’s season has been a trip. He originally joined the Lions way back in April, providing some much needed veteran experience. We saw him out there at MIKE linebacker and crushing it on special teams during training camp. He played well enough in preseason that he was totally on the roster bubble. They released him during cutdowns, sure, but then they immediately brought him back to the practice squad the very next day. When it became clear that Rolder wasn’t going to be ready to start the season because of injury, Bachie got the call-up to the active roster for the first two games. He was then released again in late September, only to be re-signed to the practice squad. Now, as the team’s LB7, the injuries to both Jack Campbell and Rolder have created a massive need, forcing Bachie to step into a bigger role moving forward. You know he’ll be a fixture on special teams, but his experience and positional versatility could actually put him right there at LB4, behind Derrick Barnes, Trevor Nowaske, and Malcolm Rodriguez, who are the presumed starters. That’s a huge jump.
New Faces and Immediate Needs for the Linebacker Crew
As for K.J. Britt and Owen Pappoe, it’s gonna take some time for them to get fully acclimated to the Lions’ defensive scheme. That’s just how it goes with new guys coming in. But here’s the kicker: Britt brings a ton of special teams experience to the table. And with the Lions typically preferring to keep six linebackers active on game days, there’s a real shot Britt could be out there playing as soon as this Sunday when they face the Dolphins. The team needs bodies, they need experience, and they need it yesterday. It’s all hands on deck as they try to patch up the holes in that linebacker unit.
It’s going to be crucial to see how these new additions, especially Britt, integrate into the scheme. The Dolphins game this Sunday is gonna be a massive test for this revamped linebacker group. You gotta wonder if these guys can step up and help keep this defense solid.
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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