Lions sign CB D’Joun Smith to practice squad, cut TE Brian Leonhardt

The Lions made a roster move on the practice squad early Friday morning, signing former third-round pick D’Joun Smith, a cornerback who spent his rookie season in 2015 with the Indianapolis Colts. Smith’s inaugural season in the NFL was plagued with injuries as the FAU product began the 2015 season on IR with a designation to return. When Smith was healthy, he made his debut in Week 11 against the Falcons, but was injured again after participating in only four games, and the Colts placed him on season-ending IR. After spending this past offseason with the Colts, Smith battled with injuries yet again and after reaching an injury settlement with the team, he was cut before the start of the season.

Smith worked out for the Saints, Jets and Lions at the end of last week, all teams that are churning over their respective depth at the position and looking for any help they can get. Smith fits the mold of a Bob Quinn type of player: a young, once highly-touted prospect who was projected as a second-to-third round draft pick on NFL.com, but has been struggling with injuries since.

Brian Leonhardt was one of the later additions to the Lions initial practice squad back at the beginning of September when the team was still unsure of the health and availability of tight end Eric Ebron.