The Lions have been exploring reserve quarterback options all offseason.
Since the end of last season, the Lions have signed five different signal-callers, traded for another, entered yesterday’s cutdowns with five on the roster, and currently roster three — Matthew Stafford, Josh Jackson and David Blough.
Recently released Luis Perez was brought in last week with the expectation he may be the preferred practice squad option, but at the time of this article’s publishing, that had yet to happen.
And they’re not done.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero is reporting that the Detroit Lions will be working out at QB Tyree Jackson (formerly of the Bills) on Monday.
QB Kyle Sloter (formerly of the Vikings) was originally slated to also workout for the Lions on Monday but had a change of heart and was signed to the Arizona Cardinals practice squad instead, per Pelissero.
Jackson, the 6-7, 250-pound Michigan-native, signed with the Buffalo Bills after going undrafted out of the University of Buffalo last season. The Lions paid a lot of attention to Jackson during the draft process, meeting with him at the NFL Combine and traveling to the Buffalo campus to pay him a visit.
“Intriguing developmental quarterback who puts check marks in the ever-so-popular “size” and “arm talent” boxes,” NFL.com’s Lance Zeirlein wrote in Jackson’s NFL draft profile summary. “Jackson’s right arm is more shotgun than rifle with scattershot accuracy and a lack of touch that prevents him from finding a rhythm from the pocket. Jackson clearly has talent and his ability to make flash throws will be alluring to a team hoping to catch lightning in a bottle, but without sustainable accuracy, average backup could be his ceiling.”
