Field Yates of ESPN reports that the Lions brought in a group of running backs including Jonas Gray, Daniel Thomas and Mike James for workouts.
Gray, 26, wound up signing on with the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame back in 2012. He lasted over a year in Jacksonville before he was cut loose at the start of the 2013 season.
Gray played for the Ravens, Patriots and another stint with the Dolphins before the Jaguars signed him off of the Jaguars’ practice squad in December of last year. The Jaguars cut him a few weeks ago with an injury designation back in August and he later reverted to the injured reserve list. and elected to waive him with an injury settlement on Wednesday.
Jacksonville elected to cut him from I.R. with an injury settlement the week before the start of the season.
In 2015, Gray appeared in eight games and ran for 176 yards on 45 carries (3.9 YPC) to go along with seven receptions for 76 yards receiving and no touchdowns.
Thomas, 28, is a former second-round pick of the Dolphins back in 2011. He played out his rookie contract with Miami before signing on with the Bears in June of last year.
However, Thomas lasted just a few months with the Bears before he was among their early roster cuts. The Dolphins somewhat surprisingly brought him back this past March only to cut him loose coming out of the preseason.
In 2014, Thomas appeared in 12 games for the Dolphins and ran for 168 yards on 44 carries (3.8 YPC) to go along with 13 receptions for 121 yards and two total touchdowns.
James, 25, is a former sixth-round pick by the Buccaneers back in 2013. He was waived a few weeks into the season but was later signed to their practice squad after clearing waivers.
Tampa Bay elected to waive James with an injury designation last week with an injury designation. After clearing waivers, James reverted to the Bucs’ injured reserve list.
The Bucs waived him from I.R. with injury settlement a few weeks into the season.
In 2014, James appeared in 11 games and ran for 37 yards on 19 carries (1.9 YPC) to go along with one reception for minus five yards.
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