It’s been over two years since Lions DT Jimmy Saddler-McQueen played in the only game of his NFL career, but he could get the chance to double that total Sunday against the Bears thanks to another D-line injury for Detroit.
Mlive.com reports that Saddler-McQueen was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday to replace DT Sammie Hill (toe), who has already been ruled out of Sunday’s game. Lions’ officials haven’t confirmed the transaction, but it’s likely that they will place Hill on injured reserve to make room for Saddler-McQueen.
Saddler-McQueen’s only NFL game was as a member of the Dallas Cowboys in Week 10 of the 2010 season.
He was originally signed to Detroit’s practice squad on Oct. 2, but it appeared that he would have to wait until 2013 for another shot at making a team’s active roster when he was released on Nov. 20. Season-ending injuries to DTs Nick Fairley and Corey Williams meant that Detroit needed an extra D-lineman in drills, and Saddler-McQueen was re-signed to the practice squad on Dec. 12.
Detroit’s defensive line was supposed to be one of the Lions’ biggest strengths this year, but it has become a patchwork shadow of its former self as the season ends without fanfare. If Hill is indeed placed on injured reserve, he will become the third Lions’ DT to be shut down for the season. Of the four Lions DTs who began the year on the active roster, only Ndamukong Suh will start against Chicago on Sunday.
Follow Lions reporter John Kreger on Twitter at @CBSLions and @JohnKreger.
