After the Lions spent so much money on the offensive line in the offseason, it is starting to come apart, at least temporarily, due to injury.
The Lions made two moves Tuesday. They signed veteran guard Tim Lelito and placed guard/center Joe Dahl (in photo) on injured reserve with a lower leg injury.
Lelito comes to Detroit after most recently spending the 2017 preseason with the Tennessee Titans. He was released on Sept. 4. Prior to Tennessee, he played four seasons (2013-16) with the New Orleans Saints, where he started in 24 games.
Currently in his fifth season, Lelito has appeared in 63 career games (24 starts). He entered the NFL in 2013 with the Saints as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Grand Valley State.
Center Travis Swanson (ankle) didn’t practice all last week and was inactive in the loss to the Falcons on Sunday. He was replaced by Graham Glasgow who shifted from left guard. Zac Kerin, who was acquired off waivers on Sept. 4, started at left guard.
Dahl is a valuable asset because he can back up at center and guard. When Taylor Decker tore his labrum in June, the Lions tried out Dahl at tackle during a few practices.
Decker was placed on the reserve/PUP list which means he will miss at least three more games. Greg Robinson has been playing left tackle in his place.
The Lions (2-1) are preparing to play at the Minnesota Vikings (2-1) on Sunday in a key NFC North matchup. The Vikings have five sacks in their first three games.
Lions Lowdown 