The Lions have added a backup quarterback.
Detroit has agreed to a deal with veteran Tom Savage, the team announced Tuesday. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
#Lions sign free agent QB Tom Savage: https://t.co/H8oOYxA9hi pic.twitter.com/47qkxjxvWh
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) April 9, 2019
Savage spent time with the Bengals and 49ers in 2018 but did not appear in a game. He began his career with the Texans, where he made 13 appearances over three seasons.
Savage completed 57.5 percent of his passes and threw for five touchdowns, along with seven interceptions, during his time with Houston.
The 28-year-old is expected to compete with Connor Cook — the only other quarterback on the roster — for the second spot on the depth chart behind Matthew Stafford.
The Lions also could select another signal-caller in this month’s draft, general manager Bob Quinn said in late March.
"It’s a position that’s important," Quinn said, via the Detroit Free Press. "I think it goes to trying to just make sure when the draft comes and free agency, you’re trying to add the best available players at each position."
Stafford threw for 3,777 yards with 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions last season. He has been with the Lions since 2009 and signed a five-year, $135 million extension in August 2017.
“Our salary situation at the quarterback position, it’s up there, so there’s only so much you can do in terms of signing a top-end, top-end backup just with the salary that comes with that," Quinn said. "But there’s other avenues to get quarterbacks and we’re going to look at all of them."
The Lions finished 2018 with a 6-10 record and missed the playoffs for the second straight season.