They were division rivals and fellow fifth-round picks, and now Sam Martin and Jeff Locke are teammates _ temporarily.
The Detroit Lions signed Locke as an injury replacement for Martin on Tuesday, two days after Kasey Redfern suffered a season-ending knee injury.
Locke, who spent the last four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, was taken 10 picks ahead of Martin in the 2013 NFL draft, No. 155 overall.
Martin was a Pro Bowl alternate last season and holds the Lions' single-season franchise record for net punting, but he suffered a summer foot injury and will miss at least the next five games.
Redfern won the punting job with a solid training camp, but he tore his ACL and MCL and suffered a partially torn meniscus when he scrambled trying to make a first down after dropping a snap in the end zone in Sunday's season-opening win over the Arizona Cardinals.
The Lions hosted five punters on a tryout late Monday afternoon, and settled on Locke in part because of his ability to handle both kickoffs and punts.
Locke netted 39 yards a punt with the Vikings last season and spent training camp with the Indianapolis Colts.
Matt Darr, Drew Butler, Richie Leone, and Matt Wile also worked out for the team on Monday.
The Lions also placed offensive tackle Corey Robinson on injured reserve Tuesday and signed Emmett Cleary.
Robinson was expected to be the team's swing tackle this fall, but he never recovered from offseason foot surgery.
Cleary appeared in 13 games and made one start for the Dallas Cowboys last year.
