Lions sign Troy Reeder to compete for open linebacker role in camp

The Detroit Lions are adding more depth to their defense ahead of training camp.

The Lions signed linebacker Troy Reeder on Monday, July 27, his agency posted on social media.

Reeder played the past seven seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, where he was a part-time starter and core special teams player.

Reeder, 31, played more than half of the Rams' special teams snaps in four of the past five seasons, failing to reach the mark only in 2024, when he missed 11 games with a hamstring injury.

He made 25 tackles, mostly on special teams last season, and has started 38 games in his career.

The Lions are thin in their back seven on defense, with safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch on the physically unable to perform list, and have one starting spot open at linebacker.

Jack Campbell and Derrick Barnes will be every-down players at the position, and Malcolm Rodriguez is the favorite for the third starting spot, but the Lions are searching for a full-time replacement for Alex Anzalone.

Rookie fourth-round pick Jimmy Rolder, veterans Trevor Nowaske, Damone Clark and Joe Bachie, and undrafted rookie Erick Hunter also are vying for roles at linebacker.

Reeder fills the roster spot the Lions created by waiving cornerback Terrion Arnold after he was arrested on eight counts of kidnapping and armed robbery this spring.

The Lions hold their first practice of training camp on July 29.

Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lions sign Troy Reeder to compete for open linebacker role in camp