Lions add depth at WR and LB, bringing Greg Dortch and Damone Clark into the fold

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Allen Park — The Detroit Lions added a pair of depth pieces on Wednesday, both with ties to the team’s coordinators, agreeing to terms with linebacker Damone Clark and wide receiver Greg Dortch.

Clark, the former LSU standout, overlapped with Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard when he returned to his alma mater to serve as the school’s director of player development in 2020.

A fifth-round pick in 2022, Clark missed a chunk of his rookie season while recovering from a spinal fusion procedure. He emerged as a starter for the Dallas Cowboys in his second season, starting all 17 games and recording a team-high 109 tackles.

Clark moved to a reserve role the following year, but has remained a strong presence on special teams, both in Dallas and with the Houston Texans last season, logging more than 500 snaps with the groups the past two seasons. He tied for 16th in the NFL last season with 18 special teams tackles in 2025

As for Dortch, he follows incoming Lions offensive coordinator Drew Petzing from Arizona, where the two worked together the past three seasons.

The 5-foot-7, 180-pounder served primarily as a slot receiver in the Cardinals offense, tallying 90 receptions and eight touchdown grabs over the past three years. He’s also been a dynamic return man, including averaging a career-best 11.6 yards on punts last season.

Both deals are for one season, like the majority of Detroit’s free agent additions this offseason. Clark adds needed depth to the linebacker room, particularly helping backfill the departure of special teams standout Grant Stuard.

Dortch, meanwhile, immediately slides into the No. 4 receiver role behind starters Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Isaac TeSlaa. Dortch also figures to be the frontrunner for handling kickoff and punt return duties after longtime return man Kalif Raymond joined the Chicago Bears this offseason.