Brad Kaaya clears waivers, expected to join Detroit Lions’ practice squad

Back when the Detroit Lions were forced to waive third-string quarterback Brad Kaaya—a move in which general manager Bob Quinn called “our hardest decision we made coming out of training camp”— the plan was to bring him back onto the team’s practice squad. Unfortunately, Kaaya didn’t clear waivers and the Carolina Panthers held onto the rookie quarterback as part of their 53-man roster.

Fast forward to this week. The Lions had another shot at Kaaya after the Panthers waived him, and Detroit returned the favor by claiming him before he cleared waivers. That lasted just a few days, as Detroit needed an extra roster spot for Khyri Thornton, who has now served his six-game suspension to completion. Kaaya was waived for the third time in his young career on Monday.

But for the first time, Kaaya has cleared waiver without a claim, according to the official NFL transaction report for Tuesday. And per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Lions are finally getting their wish:

As of Tuesday evening, the Lions have yet to announce that they have signed Kaaya to their practice squad nor any subsequent move to clear up a spot on the 10-man roster.

In the end, it appears Detroit is getting what they wanted all along for Kaaya. A spot on the practice squad to develop for the year and a chance to make the team next season.

Of course, just because Kaaya is on the practice squad doesn’t make him fully safe from other teams. Franchises are permitted to “poach” practice squad players from other teams, provided that they add them to their 53-man roster. The Lions promoted Jake Rudock to their own active roster last year, in an effort to prevent the Bears from poaching him.

But for now, the Lions appear to have their third-string quarterback back in tow.