Full Rundown of Lions' Recent Roster Moves

The Lions have been quite busy this week making changes to their roster.  I wouldn't exactly call it a roster shakeup considering injuries forced two of the moves, but I am glad there are at least a few new faces in wake of what happened in Baltimore last Sunday.  The season is as good as over already, but the Lions might as well get a look at as many players as they can with 2010 quickly approaching.  Anyway, here is a rundown of the moves the Lions made this week:

• Placed RB Kevin Smith (knee) and TE Casey FitzSimmons (concussion) on injured reserve
• Signed RB Cedric Peerman from the practice squad to fill Smith's spot on the roster
• Signed free agent TE Michael Matthews to fill FitzSimmons' spot on the roster
• Claimed CB/KR Brian Witherspoon (he was waived by Jacksonville on Monday)
• Released CB Jahi Word-Daniels to make room for Witherspoon
  
• Released FB Terrelle Smith just days after Baltimore's Terrell Suggs called him out for taking a cheap shot at his injured knee
  
• Claimed OG Roy Schuening to fill the open roster spot (he was waived by Oakland on Tuesday)
• Signed WR Eric Fowler and DT Terrance Taylor (former Michigan player) to the practice squad

As you can see, it's been a busy week for the Lions.  Although the season is winding down, it's at least good to see that the front office still has its eyes glued to the waiver wire.  You never know when you might stumble upon somebody who just needed a change of scenery to really get his career going.  At the same time, many of other teams' cast offs are upgrades over players currently on the roster, so the Lions probably figure that they might as well bring in talent whenever they can.