The Detroit Lions just dropped a surprising move on their practice squad this Tuesday, releasing veteran nose tackle Chris Smith and signing rookie Aidan Keanaaina. Talk about a head-scratcher when you hear about Smith’s standing in the locker room.
Why You Don’t Cut a Guy Dan Campbell Calls a “Gem”
Smith wasn’t just some random practice squad guy; he was genuinely respected within the Lions’ building. This dude even got early reps in training camp and preseason, which says something. After a game against the Bengals back in August, Coach Dan Campbell practically gushed about the 26-year-old defender. Campbell said Smith “just does everything right.” He highlighted the little things, how Smith never made the same mistake twice, and how he was the kind of player a coach dreams of having. The praise didn’t stop there, with Campbell noting Smith’s dedication in the offseason, always working to hone his game and playing disciplined football. Despite all that glowing feedback and a strong preseason showing, Smith didn’t make the initial 53-man roster and spent the first six weeks on the practice squad without ever getting a call-up to the active roster. Now, he’s off the team, and an undrafted rookie is stepping into his spot.
Aidan Keanaaina’s Wild Ride Back to Detroit
If the name Aidan Keanaaina rings a bell, there’s a good reason. The Lions actually invested pretty heavily in him earlier this year as an undrafted rookie. Among Detroit’s UDFA class, Keanaaina snagged the highest amount of contract guarantees with a cool $267,500. Unfortunately, the kid suffered an injury during training camp, which landed him on injured reserve, and he was released with an injury settlement not long after. Clearly, the clock on that injury settlement has run out, and Keanaaina is now free to pick up his development right where he left off with Detroit. The Lions don’t exactly have a ton of depth at nose tackle, so it’s definitely possible he sees the field this season, but he’ll need some time to get back into football shape first. Keanaaina isn’t alone either; he joins five other members of the Lions’ UDFA class on the roster, including EDGE Eric O’Neill, quarterback Luke Altmyer, tight end Miles Kitselman (who also returned after his injury settlement expired), EDGE Anthony Lucas, and safety Aamaris Brown.
This is a wild move for a team that needs depth. Keanaaina has got to get back to full speed, but if he does, this could be a major upside play for the Lions’ interior defense.
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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