Forget the coaching staff connections from Terrell Williams to Mike Kafka for a second. The real story brewing for Sunday’s 9:30 a.m. ET kickoff at FC Bayern Munich Stadium? There are EIGHT players on the active rosters, practice squads, and reserve lists who have worn both a Patriots and a Lions uniform in their NFL careers. Seriously, eight guys. This Germany game just got a whole lot more interesting, didn’t it? It’s not just about two teams clashing, it’s about former teammates and locker rooms, stretching from Foxborough to Detroit, and now to Munich.
From New England to Detroit: The Quarterback Carousel
Let’s talk about Joshua Dobbs first. This dude’s journey is wild. The Patriots signed him one March, then dropped him with a year left on his contract. He only played four games in his single season there, backing up Pro Bowler and All-Pro Drake Maye. He went 7-of-10 for 65 yards, no touchdowns, no picks. But that’s just a tiny blip on his NFL map! Drafted by the Titans in 2017, Dobbs has bounced around to the Steelers, Jaguars, Browns, Titans again, Cardinals, Vikings, and 49ers before landing back with the Lions during training camp after Teddy Bridgewater retired. The 31-year-old veteran has made 15 starts in his 28 career games, completing 62.8 percent of his passes for 3,346 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. And get this: he’s also rushed for 515 yards and eight scores. What a career odyssey for the guy who used to be a Patriot, now a Lion.
Special Teams Standouts and Defensive Stalwarts Crossing the Divide
Then you’ve got DeAndre Carter, a wide receiver who’s practically got a frequent flyer card for NFL teams. An FCS All-American out of Sacramento State, Carter hit stops with the Ravens and Raiders before landing on Bill Belichick’s practice squad as an undrafted rookie in December 2015. He got released, re-signed, and even caught a touchdown in the preseason with them. Since then, the 33-year-old has toured double-digit teams around the league. Just this October, he moved from the Lions’ practice squad to their 53-man roster. This guy is a true veteran. Over 114 career games, he’s racked up 1,336 receiving yards, 99 rushing yards, and six offensive touchdowns. Plus, he’s a special teams beast with 1,523 punt return yards, 3,468 kickoff return yards, and another touchdown there. Talk about making an impact in every facet of the game!
And don’t forget K.J. Britt. The Lions snagged this 27-year-old linebacker right off the Patriots’ practice squad at the start of November. He actually made the initial cut in Foxborough, but then got released as a vested veteran, only to be called right back up as a standard elevation by Detroit. He signed a one-year deal last offseason and has played in 78 career games, with 16 starts. Now he’s on the 53-man roster for the Lions. That’s a quick pivot from one locker room to another for a guy looking to make his mark.
So yeah, when these teams hit the field in Germany, it’s not just another Week 10 matchup. There are some serious personal storylines woven into the fabric of this game. You gotta wonder what’s going through these guys’ heads. Will they make a statement against their old squad? This Sunday morning in Munich, we’re about to find out. Get ready for some fireworks!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pats Pulpit.
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