Reported signings may mark the end for James Houston as a Detroit Lion

The Detroit Lions are adding a player after their bye. Former Buccaneers linebacker Cam Gill will sign with the Lions practice squad on Monday, according to FOX Sports’ Greg Auman. The group has not yet formally announced the change.

As of 1:07 PM ET, Gill’s signing is part of the practice squad changes that the Lions have announced.

The New Orleans Saints selected Al-Quadin Muhammad, a SAM linebacker/edge rusher, in the sixth round of the 2017 NFL Draft, which included defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and head coach Dan Campbell of the Lions.

Gill spent four seasons with the Buccaneers despite not being selected by Wagner in the 2020 draft. With 768 special teams snaps and 184 defensive snaps, he was mostly used as a special teams player in 40 games. Due to a Lisfranc injury sustained during the preseason, he was sidelined for the whole 2022 campaign. In spite of his paucity of defensive activity, he finished his career with 13 pressures and 2.5 sacks.

Gill played for the Carolina Panthers during the preseason, but he was waived with an injury settlement after suffering an ankle injury in the season’s final game. He participated in the Miami Dolphins’ most recent sessions as they look for assistance with edge rushers.

In a vacuum, the physical profiles of Gill (6-foot-3, 240 pounds) and Muhammad (6-foot-3, 250 pounds) are similar to Derrick Barnes, who is on IR with a knee injury he suffered in Week 3. They could enter the mix for the SAM linebacker role the Lions are trying to fill in Barnes’ absence.

Signings might mark the end for James Houston as a Lion

In relation to that SAM linebacker position, the Lions proposed throughout the preseason that James Houston take it on. Despite having a poor camp and preseason, he was on the verge of making the team thanks to a sack in the season finale.

Head coach Dan Campbell has since attempted to dispel the notion that Houston isn’t viewed as a player who can make a meaningful contribution by using meaningless platitudes like “he’s here, he’s working”. At times, Campbell speaks volumes with few or no words.

It’s still unclear how the Lions will fill the vacancy on their 53-man roster.

When the club returns from its bye week, the addition of Gill and Muhammad as viable possibilities at SAM linebacker may (should?) indicate that Houston’s career as a Detroit Lion is drawing to an end.