The Detroit Lions officially signed LB Steve Longa to their practice squad on Thursday and waived LB Zaviar Gooden from the unit.
The Lions’ practice squad now consists of:
- WR Jace Billingsley
- CB Alex Carter
- WR TJ Jones
- CB D’Joun Smith
- QB Jake Rudock
- G Brandon Thomas
- OT Brian Mihalik
- RB Mike James
- WR Jay Lee
- LB Steve Longa
Gooden, 25, is a former third-round pick of the Titans back in 2013. He had two years remaining on his four-year, $2.681 million rookie contract that included a $506,016 signing bonus. He was set to make a base salary of $590,000 for the 2015 season.
Gooden, unfortunately, sustained a torn hamstring last August that led to him being placed on injured reserve at the start of the season. The Lions brought him back shortly after this year’s draft only to cut him loose coming out of the preseason.
Gooden later signed to the team’s practice squad.
Gooden returned to the team’s practice squad last week before being called up.
Longa, 22, wound up signing a three-year, $1.62 million contract with the Seahawks as an unrafted free agent out of Rutgers back in May. He lasted just a few months in Seattle before he was waived coming out of the preseason and later signed on to the Lions’ practice squad.
The Lions promoted to their active roster last week but cut him loose a few days ago.
During his college career at Rutgers, Longa recorded 335 tackles, seven sacks, five forced fumbles, two recoveries and seven pass defenses over the course of three years.
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