The vacancy on the roster and at linebacker created by the move to release Zack Follett looks like it will be filled by Bobby Carpenter. Just as rumors suggested, Carpenter has agreed to a deal with the Lions and is planning to re-sign today, according to Dave Birkett. Lions team president Tom Lewand says the move is pending a physical.

After the Lions upgraded their group of linebackers with Justin Durant and Stephen Tulloch, it looked like Carpenter could end up signing with another team. His chances of starting with the Lions greatly dropped with the moves made last week, so there was no guarantee he would return to Detroit with playing time potentially being limited.

Now that Carpenter is set to re-sign with the Lions, the linebacker position has some solid depth. Carpenter made two starts last season and played very well for the Lions down the stretch. Before the Lions added Tulloch I was thinking Carpenter would be in the mix to start, but now he will be returning as a backup and someone who is ready to start if injuries happen.

With DeAndre Levy, Durant, Tulloch, Ashlee Palmer, Doug Hogue, Isaiah Ekejiuba and Carpenter likely making up the linebacking corps, this position has gone from a weakness to a strength very quickly.