Lions parted ways with veteran RB days after signing him The Detroit Lions continue to make changes to their active roster, parting ways with veteran Devine Ozigbo just days after signing him to the active roster.
The Lions signed the 27-year-old before Monday night’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders, but released him on November 2.
As SI.com’s John Maakaron reported, his release could signal that running back David Montgomery may be close to returning from a rib injury that kept him out of the last two games.
Lions make running back moves Ozigbo was on Detroit’s practice squad but was promoted to appear in two games before being placed on the active roster.
He appeared on the field a total of three times, taking three carries for 5 yards and making one catch for 8 yards in the team’s October 15 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
As SI.com noted, Ozigbo appeared on two offensive snaps and seven on special teams in Monday’s win over the Raiders.
The Lions made two roster changes today, including one that suggests the return of David Montgomery could be imminent.
Upon releasing Ozigbo, the Lions signed defenseman Trevor Nowaske to the 53-man roster.
The second-year defensive end was on Detroit’s practice squad last year, but Maakaron noted that he performed strongly in the preseason with seven tackles and one pass defensed.
“I still have a lot of work to do,” Nowaske said at the time via SI.com.
“I knew from here on out it was going to be a tough, unprepared battle.
I’m glad I was able to come and contribute, but there’s still work to be done.
David Montgomery could be close to returning Ozigbo. Ozigbo’s release could be a sign of more stability in the backfield for the Lions, who have been without Montgomery since Week 6.
Running back says the team is taking a cautious approach to his return, trying not to push him before he’s ready.
“We’re just trying to take it one day at a time,” Montgomery told the Detroit Free Press last week.
“We really don’t know at the moment, but right now we’re just trying to make sure I come back as healthy as possible.
The week off helps a lot, you just need a little time, but other than that we’ll get there.
Ozigbo’s release could signal that Montgomery is ready to return after this week.
The Lions made their next move on running back, promoting former New York Jets running back Zonovan “Bam” Knight to the active roster in September.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell on that time said the team would work with all the running backs.
“I still think there will be a committee if D-Mo can’t go, but Gibbs certainly has more of a chance,” Campbell said.
“And there again, the more – he got a little bit more, and there are some plays he made and there’s a lot he left out.
And some of that is part of being a rookie.
He’ll get better from those with the more exposure he gets.
And we need him to grow, and he will.
” Knight appeared in two games, taking three carries for 13 total yards and making one catch for 8 yards.
He was placed on injured reserve on October 14.
Nathan Dougherty is a sports reporter who covers the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions for the heavyweights.
Previously, he wrote for the Rochester Business Journal and was a contributing editor for the sports trade magazines Coaching Management, Sports Management and Training & Conditioning.
He lives in Rochester, New York and loves everything about soccer.
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