Detroit Lions sign defensive tackle Brian Price

The Detroit Lions announced on Tuesday morning that they have signed defensive tackle Brian Price. Contract terms of the signing were not immediately available.

Price fills in the Lions’ final spot on the 90-man roster after the team placed defensive tackle Joel Heath on injured reserve last week following a reported torn ACL during OTAs.

Price has been an NFL journeyman since going undrafted in 2016. He’s made stops with the Green Bay Packers (twice), Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders, and Jacksonville Jaguars. His most productive season came in 2018, when he made 12 game appearances for the Browns, playing in 210 snaps and logging 12 tackles.

At 6-foot-3, 322 pounds, Price’s best fit in Detroit’s offense is likely at nose tackle. There he will have to battle the likes of third-round draft pick Alim McNeill, 2019 sixth-round pick John Penisini, and John Atkins for a chance to make the 53-man roster.

One advantage Price will have is a previous relationship with the Lions’ new staff. In the middle of the 2019 season, Price was signed to the Jaguars practice squad when current Lions defensive line coach Todd Wash was the defensive coordinator there. He soon after signed a futures contract with the Jaguars for the 2020 season, but he suffered a knee injury that would land him on injured reserve a month before the season began. Current Lions front office senior personnel executive John Dorsey also signed him to the Browns’ practice squad back in 2018. That familiarity could be an early leg up for Price.

Price will see his first action with the Lions this week, as the second week of Organized Team Activities kicks off on Wednesday.