Detroit Lions sign RB Tra Carson to futures contract

The Detroit Lions have signed running back Tra Carson to a futures deal the team announced on Tuesday afternoon.

Carson was claimed off waivers by the Lions in mid-October as the team was searching for running back depth. Between him, Paul Perkins, and Wes Hills, the Lions shuffled players on and off the practice squad.

As fate would have it for Carson, just a couple days after being claimed, Kerryon Johnson suffered a knee injury that would land him on injured reserve. The following week, Carson started for the Lions, rushing for 34 yards on 12 carries.

Carson then suffered a hamstring injury and was placed on injured reserve before having another opportunity to play. He was released from injured reserve a few days later, but never landed on another roster.

Carson joins Kerryon Johnson, Ty Johnson and Bo Scarbrough as the running backs currently under contract for 2020.

Carson becomes the 15th player to receive a futures deal from the Lions this offseason. The others include: center Russell Bodine, tight ends Paul Butler and Matt Sokol, wide receivers Victor Bolden, Jonathan Duhart, and Tom Kennedy, guard Casey Tucker, offensive tackle Matt Nelson, defensive tackle Olive Sagapolu, linebacker Christian Sam, safety A.J. Howard, punters Jack Fox and Matt Wile and long snapper James Fisher.