Lions active C/G Evan Brown from the reserve/NFI list

The Detroit Lions have activated center/guard Evan Brown from the reserve/NFI list, bringing their active offensive linemen total up to 15 players, and allowing the team to cycle through three lines at practice.

With only two center spots open in the rotation behind starter Frank Ragnow, the pecking order at the reserve center position is a bit unclear.

Brown was repping as the team’s second-team center in the spring and was expected to hold that role entering training camp, but after landing on the NFI list, it opened the door for UDFA center Drake Jackson to step up into the role. Jackson has looked solid and with his upside, it’s possible he maintains the role moving forward.

Also in Brown’s path to a job is newly signed C/G Evan Boehm, who superseded Brown as the most experienced reserve interior offensive lineman on the roster, and has been the team’s third-team center.

More than likely, the Lions will use a combination of all three through the two spots, but the order in which they are being used could be an indicator of which player Lions’ coaches are leaning towards when setting the 53-man roster.

Because Brown was counted against the Lions' active roster, there is no corresponding move required for this activation, and the roster remains at 89 players after releasing EDGE Reggie Gilbert last night.