The Detroit Lions have decided to part ways with veteran running back Devine Ozigbo just a short while after they had recently added him to their active roster.
Ozigbo, who is 27 years old, had been signed by the Lions in preparation for their Monday night game against the Las Vegas Raiders but was released on November 2.
According to an article by SI.com’s John Maakaron, this move may indicate that the team’s primary running back, David Montgomery, is nearing a return from a rib injury that has kept him out of the last two games.
Devine Ozigbo had initially been on Detroit’s practice squad but was brought up to play in two games before being officially added to the active roster. During his time with the team, he appeared in three games in total, carrying the ball three times for a total of five yards and making one catch for 8 yards during the Lions’ victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 15. In the most recent game against the Raiders, Ozigbo participated in two offensive snaps and seven special teams snaps.
The Lions made a pair of roster moves today–including one that suggests David Montgomery's return could be imminent.@DetroitOnLion with the details: https://t.co/DMNeGA3mD2
— Pride of Detroit (@PrideOfDetroit) November 2, 2023
In conjunction with Ozigbo’s release, the Lions decided to sign linebacker Trevor Nowaske to their 53-man roster. Nowaske, a second-year linebacker, was part of Detroit’s practice squad the previous year. However, Maakaron noted that he displayed a strong performance during the preseason, recording seven tackles and a pass defense.
David Montgomery’s potential return seems to be the reason behind Ozigbo’s release, providing the Lions with more stability in their running back position. Montgomery has been absent from the team since Week 6, and he has expressed the need for a cautious approach to his return, prioritizing his health. Ozigbo’s departure suggests that Montgomery might be ready to make his comeback after the bye week.
The Lions have made various changes to their running back lineup, including promoting former New York Jets running back Zonovan “Bam” Knight to the active roster back in September. Head coach Dan Campbell mentioned that they would continue to utilize a committee approach for running backs, even if Montgomery couldn’t play. Knight, who participated in two games, had three carries for a total of 13 yards and caught one pass for 8 yards before being placed on injured reserve on October 14.
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