The Detroit Lions had an opening on their practice squad after putting wide receiver Patrick Edwards on injured reserve for the second season in a row. To fill that opening, the Lions decided to sign tight end Matt Veldman, who spent time with the Lions this past summer.
Veldman, who was with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2012, spent his rookie season on injured reserve. In June 2013, the Jaguars let him go, and the Lions added him shortly after, likely because of his connection to tight ends coach Bobby Johnson (they were both in Jacksonville in 2012). Veldman was toward the bottom of the Lions' depth chart at tight end, and he was released as roster cuts started happening in late August.
Veldman returns to Detroit as a member of the practice squad for the time being. With Brandon Pettigrew banged up, it's possible the Lions could be in need of extra depth at tight end for Sunday's game against the New York Giants, and Veldman would likely be able to fill that depth since he already knows the offense. If he ends up on the 53-man roster, look for a move to be made on Saturday.