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Just before the Detroit Lions' game against the Cleveland Browns kicked off on Thursday night, news broke that the team agreed to a deal with defensive tackle Justin Bannan. The Denver Post's Mike Klis reported the news, which comes nearly a month after Bannan visited the Lions.
According to Dave Birkett, the reason a deal didn't happen sooner is because Bannan wanted to wait to sign with a team. Now that we're nearly halfway through the preseason, Bannan has apparently decided it's time to join a team, and now he is headed to the Lions.
Bannan, 34, joins the Lions after starting 15 games for the Denver Broncos in 2012. He recorded 42 tackles, 4 passes defended and 1 forced fumble last season. That was actually his second stint with the Broncos, as he started 16 games for them in 2010. He played for the St. Louis Rams in between, and he spent time with the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills earlier in his career.
Bannan will likely be the Lions' No. 4 defensive tackle behind Ndamukong Suh, Nick Fairley and C.J. Mosley. The Lions have had Andre Fluellen, Ogemdi Nwagbuo and Jimmy Saddler-McQueen competing for that spot, but Bannan is the clear favorite now that he's joining the team.