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Detroit Lions hosting RB Stevan Ridley for Free Agent Visit

By Zac Snyder

Dec 27, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets running back Stevan Ridley (22) runs with the ball during the first half of their game against the New England Patriots at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets running back Stevan Ridley (22) runs with the ball during the first half of their game against the New England Patriots at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Detroit Lions have a running back spot to fill after parting ways with Joique Bell and are showing interest in free agent Stevan Ridley.

The initial excitement of NFL free agency may be long gone but that doesn’t mean free agency is over.

The Detroit Lions, in their first offseason under the direction of general manager Bob Quinn, moved swiftly to secure the services of wide receiver Marvin Jones but have otherwise taken a restrained approach to free agency.

Quinn has held his cards close to the vest since taking the Lions’ GM job but has repeatedly mentioned the need to improve the overall depth of the roster. That talk has been put into action during the free agency period and continues with NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reporting that the Lions will host running back Stevan Ridley for a visit.

Ridley played in six games for the New England Patriots in 2014 before tearing his ACL. He signed with the New York Jets last offseason while recovering and made his season-debut in week 7 – almost exactly one year after suffering the injury.

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But Ridley’s time with the Jets was not productive. As Lions fans have seen, the effects of an ACL injury can linger even after a player returns to the field and Ridley did not have many opportunities to work himself in game action behind Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell.

Ridley finished with 90 yards on 36 carries last season – a far cry from the career-high 1,263 yards he put up for the Patriots in 2012.

That all sounds like a lot to not like about Ridley but this is the buy-low stage of free agency and Ridley can fill a need. The release of Joique Bell leaves a void for a bigger back on the roster and the 5’11”, 220 pound Ridley may fill it.

The need is there and the fit could be right with Bob Quinn being very familiar with Ridley from their days in New England together.

Next: Lions Running Back Draft Targets

It remains to be seen if a contract comes of it but if it does, expect it to follow the format of contracts for other similar free agent signings which are heavy on playing time incentives. ESPN’s Michael Rothstein has a good overview of how the Lions are doing contracts differently under Quinn.

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