The Lions are set to add kicker Justin Medlock to the roster today if he passes a physical. Medlock was claimed on Tuesday, a day after being let go by the Redskins, which had originally signed him back in February.
Medlock is from UCLA and started his career in 2007 with the Chiefs. His career in Kansas City only officially lasted one week into the regular season, however, as he was replaced by one-time Lion Dave Rayner following a shaky opening-week performance. The 2008 offseason led Medlock to sign with the Rams, but he was let go because St. Louis signed Josh Brown as the team's starting kicker.
Left again without a team, Medlock opted to go to the CFL in April 2009. He played extremely well for the Toronto Argonauts and ended up receiving an opportunity with the Redskins earlier this offseason as a result. After being waived and left without a team again, however, Medlock assumed he was headed back to the CFL, but for now he is a member of the Lions.
What exactly does this move mean? Probably nothing. The Lions often bring in a second kicker for the offseason to take some of the load off of Jason Hanson. Although Hanson struggled a bit last year, his job as the starting kicker is not in jeopardy. Some could argue that his job as the kickoff man is in jeopardy, mainly because Hanson's power on kickoffs has seemed to decrease. I don't think the Lions have enough room on the team to take a kickoff specialist, especially since there is already a long snapper, but I'm sure Medlock will get a look at the very least.