Lions sign former Steelers, Kentucky RB Benny Snell

After a workout with the Detroit Lions this week, former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Benny Snell has landed a new contract. Snell became a free agent following the 2022 season but he now has a new home in Detroit.

In the process of finding a new team, Snell participated in a minicamp with Sean Payton’s new-look Denver Broncos in June. Then, last week, he worked out in the desert for the Las Vegas Raiders. On Wednesday, Snell returned to the heartland to try out for the Indianapolis Colts.

The news of Snell’s signing comes after the Colts announced the retirement of running back Justin Jackson at 27 years old.

In four years with the Steelers, Snell posted 982 yards rushing and seven touchdowns while averaging just 3.6 yards per carry. He also caught 17 passes for 114 yards. His most productive season was as a rookie where he posted 426 yards on 108 carries.

He originally signed a four-year deal with the Steelers for $3.22 million after they selected him out of Kentucky with a fourth-round pick.

Along with signing Snell as part of this week’s roster moves, the Lions also waived guard Logan Stenberg, another former Kentucky fourth-rounder.

The Lions take on the New York Giants on Friday for their first preseason game of the year.

Detroit Lions sign QB Teddy Bridgewater

Detroit also signed former Miami Dolphins quarterback Teddy Bridgewater this week following a recent visit with the team.

Bridgewater is entering his 10th season in the NFL after spending last season on the Miami Dolphins serving as a backup quarterback.

Bridgewater’s number was called upon on five occasions last season for Miami, and he also made two starts for the team, ending the season with 683 yards, four touchdowns, and four interceptions for the Dolphins.

Prior to his one-year stint with Miami, he also made one-year stops with the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers. Bridgewater started 14 games for the Broncos in 2021, throwing for 3,052 yards and a career-high 18 touchdown passes. And in the previous season with the Panthers, he started 15 games for Carolina completing a career-high 69.1% of his passes for another career-high 3,733 yards in the air, adding 15 touchdowns and 11 interceptions to his stat line.

Bridgewater would also spend two seasons with the New Orleans Saints and five months on the New York Jets, but his career began in Minnesota when the Vikings selected him with the No. 32 overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft out of Louisville.

He was a standout for the Cardinals during his collegiate career, throwing for 9,817 yards and 72 after taking over as the team’s starter in the fourth game of his true freshman season, and never looked back.

On3’s Kaiden Smith contributed to this report.