The Detroit Lions have been hit hard by a defensive line injury and have lost some depth this week due to practice squad poaching, but one insider believes they may have an unexpected opportunity to add some of that depth back.
According to SI.com’s John Maakaron, the Tennessee Titans are expected to release defensive tackle Teair Tart this week. The Titans had signed the 26-year-old as an undrafted free agent in 2020, but he had a falling out with the team.
“The talented defensive lineman has reportedly been unhappy about his contract situation,” Maakaron said in a statement. “The Titans have been likely unwilling to commit a long-term contract extension, due to being unsatisfied with his attitude recently and his effort level.”
Maakaron wrote that Tart could be a logical target to add depth after the Lions lost defensive lineman Alim McNeill to injury.
A’motivated’ defensive tackle could aid Detroit’s playoff push.
Maakaron mentioned that the Lions have been rotating players to fill the void left by McNeill’s injury. They used the maximum of three practice squad elevations on talented Quinton Bohanna and had the opportunity to sign him to the active roster to play the rest of the season, but they returned him to the practice squad and the Titans signed him to their active roster.
He also mentioned Tart, who is in the final year of his contract and looking for a new deal.
“A motivated player that is seeking to perform at a high level, in order to secure their next contract, could aid the Lions in the postseason against powerhouse NFC teams like the Cowboys, the Eagles and the 49ers, which feature solid rushing attacks,” Maakaron said in a statement.
Tart had started nine of the Titans’ 11 games this season and had 21 total tackles, including one sack. In 2022, he had a career-best season, starting 16 games and totaling 34 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
The Lions are hoping to rebound on defense.
The Lions are looking to improve their defense after struggling in last week’s 28-13 loss to the Chicago Bears. Edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson said this week that he is “hellbent” on improving after making some critical mistakes, including an offsides call on fourth down and an ill-timed stunt that allowed quarterback Justin Fields to scramble to the outside and run for an 11-yard touchdown on third and goal.
“We’re going to get back, we’re hellbent on it,” Hutchinson said, as reported by SB Nation’s Pride of Detroit. “We’re going to win football again; that’s been our main goal since Monday, Sunday night.” I believe everyone in this locker room and throughout the building is eager to get back to work.”
Hutchinson went on to say that the Lions’ problems against the Bears were mostly due to “stupid” mistakes, which he believes they can fix.
“The things that went wrong weren’t necessarily—it wasn’t technique—it was just some temporary lapses in judgment, I guess,” Hutchinson went on to say. “I’m not changing anything about myself as a football player.” It was just one of those stupid things that happened, and you move on.”
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