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Three options for the Detroit Lions after Steve Longa’s ACL tear

By Ash Thompson

SANTA CLARA, CA - SEPTEMBER 21: Cooper Kupp #18 of the Los Angeles Rams is tackled by NaVorro Bowman #53 of the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on September 21, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - SEPTEMBER 21: Cooper Kupp #18 of the Los Angeles Rams is tackled by NaVorro Bowman #53 of the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on September 21, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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ORCHARD PARK, NY - AUGUST 31: Nick O'Leary #84 of the Buffalo Bills runs after the catch as he is pursued by Steve Longa #54 of the Detroit Lions during the first quarter of a preseason game on August 31, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY – AUGUST 31: Nick O’Leary #84 of the Buffalo Bills runs after the catch as he is pursued by Steve Longa #54 of the Detroit Lions during the first quarter of a preseason game on August 31, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /

The Detroit Lions may have lost backup linebacker Steve Longa to an ACL tear. Here are three options they could pursue to replace him.

Ian Rapoport is reporting that the Detroit Lions Steve Longa has a torn ACL. Longa joined the team in 2017 and served as a core special teams player. He was the primary backup middle linebacker in 2018 prior to the injury sustained Friday night.

This is bad news for the Lions. Their linebacker depth is not particularly great after the loss of veterans Tahir Whitehead and Paul Worrilow as free agents during the offseason. Nick Bellore, one of the Lions other linebackers from the 2017 squad, also made the move to fullback. It is possible that the Lions may move Bellore back to the defensive side of the ball, as he brought a lot of the same traits as Longa to the game.

The loss of Longa leaves the Lions linebacker corp thin. Second-year player Jalen Reeves-Maybin will likely serve as the primary backup to both Christian Jones and Jarrad Davis during the season. Reeves-Maybin is a much more athletic player than Longa but lacks the functional strength and size that Longa brought to the position.

The Lions do not have an acceptable in-house solution to this problem. It would be in their best interest to bring some help aboard. The team has just under $9.5 million in available salary cap space, so any move to bolster the roster at the position is possible.

There are some veteran options available to replace Longa in the lineup if Lions GM Bob Quinn decides to go that route. Here are the three most appealing players available.

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