Detroit Lions Sign LB Steve Longa, Activate DE/LB Armonty Bryant

The Detroit Lions signed linebacker Steve Longa off the practice squad, activated defensive end/linebacker Armonty Bryant and released two players on Saturday.

The Detroit Lions made a few more changes to cap off a busy week of roster turnover on Saturday, signing linebacker Steve Longa off the practice squad, adding defensive end/linebacker Armonty Bryant off the exempt list and cutting recent signee lineman Brian Mihalik and wide receiver Aaron Dobson.

The moves come at a time when the Lions are still thin at linebacker, as DeAndre Levy remains out for the fourth week in a row and was recently listed with a knee injury in addition to his quad injury on the team’s report. Also, the Lions are missing their best pass rusher, Ezekiel Ansah, who remains out with a high ankle sprain.

Steve Longa was born in Cameroon and left the country for the United States when he was 12 years old. He played linebacker for three years at Rutgers, picking up over 100 tackles each season and starting all 37 games he appeared in before declaring for the draft despite having one year of eligibility left. He went undrafted and signed with the Seattle Seahawks as a UDFA after the draft, but was cut on last day of preseason cuts.

Despite being praised for his athleticism, Longa does not measure very highly when compared to NFL athletes, scoring below average in nearly every category. He stands about six feet tall and ran a 4.78 forty-yard dash a the NFL Combine.

Also on Saturday, the Lions added Armonty Bryant to the 53-man roster from their exempt list. Despite a four-game PED suspension and a long list of off-field problems, including a felony drug possession conviction stemming from a Christmas Day 2015 arrest, Bryant was signed off waivers earlier this week after being released by the Cleveland Browns.

The Lions had a one-week roster exemption for him after his suspension ended on Monday, which allowed them to keep him without cutting anyone during the week. Bryant has reportedly spoken with the Lions’ front office about the drug suspension said his goal is to “clean up (his) act a little bit.”

In order to make room for Longa and Bryant, the Lions released lineman Brian Mihalik, who the team signed on Thursday, and also released wide receiver Aaron Dobson for the second time this season after re-signing him in September.

Next: Lions v. Eagles Week Five Preview

The Lions will host the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday at 1:00 on FOX.