The Detroit Lions have experienced some injuries in recent days and made some roster moves on Thursday to cover for them.
According to the team, it has signed offensive lineman Jake Burton and defensive lineman Pat O'Connor. In addition, offensive lineman Netane Muti has been placed on injured reserve, which will end his season before it starts.
The additions of O'Connor and Burton come in the wake of Muti and defensive end John Cominsky suffering significant injuries at training camp. Muti is dealing with a shoulder injury while Cominsky has a torn MCL, per reports.
On Wednesday, head coach Dan Campbell revealed that the team was considering not putting Cominsky on injured reserve immediately in order to leave the door open for his return later in the season. Clearly that is the route they will indeed take, at least for now.
Burton has spent the past few years in the USFL and UFL. He appeared in 11 games for the Michigan Panthers earlier this year and played guard. Burton spent time on the New York Giants' practice squad in 2021.
Lions fans may remember O'Connor, who was the team's seventh-round pick in 2017. O'Connor has appeared in 68 games (no starts) during his six-year career, all of which came with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also has a Super Bowl ring.
Both O'Connor and Burton figure to be long shots to make the roster, but they will afford the Lions a few more bodies in camp and could be candidates for the practice squad after final cuts.
