Allen Park — Needing safety help after Avonte Maddox suffered a season-ending injury, the Detroit Lions scoured their options and settled on poaching rookie Bishop Fitzgerald from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad.
Fitzgerald, who went undrafted out of USC this spring, wrapped his three-stop college career with the Trojans after stints at Coffeyville Community College (Kan.) and North Carolina State.
In 10 starts with the Trojans last season, Fitzgerald had 51 tackles and five interceptions to earn first-team All-American honors from the Associated Press.
The 5-foot-11, 201-pound Fitzgerald was viewed as a Day 3 pick coming into the draft after running an above-average 4.55-second 40-yard dash, but went unselected before signing with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent.
Fitzgerald appeared in all three preseason games for the Titans, splitting his time between box and free safety alignments. He also saw special teams work on five different units. He recorded eight tackles and didn’t give up a reception on two targets.
Part of the Titans’ final cuts, Fitzgerald moved to Pittsburgh to join the team’s practice squad.
In addition to signing Fitzgerald to fill the roster spot created by transferring Maddox to injured reserve, the Lions cleared a second opening by releasing veteran linebacker Joe Bachie.
Fitzgerald is the second safety the Lions added this week. The team also signed veteran Jalen Mills to the practice squad on Monday. He worked out for Detroit earlier in the day, along with Mike Edwards and Jordan Fuller.
Accepting the fact that we need to score 35 each game going forward. Which, we can do.
Does Bachie’s release indicate Rolder is full-go? (I never understood why they wanted to guarantee Bachie’s salary as part of the initial 53, he could’ve been a practice squad elevation in Week 1.)