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Lions put in a waiver claim for Tim Wright

The Detroit Lions attempted to claim a tight end from the New England Patriots last week, but they didn't have high enough priority on the waiver wire.

Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Last Friday, the Detroit Lions added quarterback Garrett Gilbert to their roster after claiming him off waivers from the New England Patriots. He wasn't the only ex-Patriots player they tried to claim off waivers last week, though. In addition to Gilbert, the Lions wanted to add tight end Tim Wright, but they weren't high enough on the waiver-wire priority list.

As you can see, the Lions weren't even close to being awarded Wright with so many other teams interested in him. He ultimately ended up returning to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which traded him to New England in the first place last August. With the Patriots in 2014, Wright had 26 catches for 259 yards and six touchdowns.

So, why did the Lions try to add Wright? Considering they signed tight end David Ausberry last week, it's clear that they aren't thrilled with their depth at tight end right now. That likely stems from Joseph Fauria being limited as he continues to recover from an ankle injury. Once Fauria gets to 100 percent, their depth at the position should be fine. In the meantime, though, the Lions seemingly wanted some extra insurance by throwing a guy like Wright into the mix at the position.

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