Detroit Lions sign P Lachlan Edwards, LS Beau Brinkley to practice squad

The Detroit Lions added two special teamers for depth on Saturday. The team announced they have signed punter Lachlan Edwards and long snapper Beau Brinkley to their practice squad.

The move comes just a few days after the Lions had to place kicker Austin Seibert on the reserve/COVID-19, forcing the team to promote Ryan Santoso to the active roster just a day after signing him to the practice squad. Considering the Lions have no backup punter or long snapper, this could be a proactive move to have some ready-to-go depth should punter Jack Fox or long snapper Scott Daly be forced to miss a game in the future.

Edwards was a 2016 sixth-round pick and served as the New York Jets punter for four years. There he averaged 45.5 yards per punt, which ranked 22nd among punters with at least 10 kicks between 2016 and 2019. Since then, he spent a brief amount of time with the Bills and Chargers in 2020 and was in training camp for the Chargers this year.

Brinkley had been the long snapper for the Tennessee Titans from 2012 to 2019. He was even named as a Pro Bowl alternative following the 2019 season. However, the Titans—like the Lions—opted to move on from their veteran long snapper recently.

To make room for both players on the practice squad, the Lions announced that they have cut wide receiver Javon McKinley and tight end Jared Pinkney. McKinley was a priority undrafted free agent signing who has already been on and off the practice squad once this offseason. Pinkney, on the other hand, was signed to the practice squad after he failed to make the Tennessee Titans’ 53-man roster during roster cutdowns.