The Detroit Lions are poaching a linebacker from the Denver Broncos.
The Lions have signed linebacker Kwon Alexander off the Broncos’ practice squad to their own 53-man roster. Denver could have prevented it by promoting Alexander, but the team previously opted to promote Zach Cunningham from the practice squad to the active roster earlier this week.
The news was broken by ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Friday morning and has since been confirmed by multiple outlets. Detroit added Alexander after losing Malcolm Rodriguez to a knee injury on Thanksgiving.
Alexander (6-1, 227 pounds) used up his three practice squad elevations in Denver by rotating with Justin Strnad (6-3, 235 pounds) at inside linebacker from Weeks 7-9. Alexander even started two of those games and he got a season-high 31 snaps in Week 9. Strnad’s snaps dropped from 42 to 37 to 14 in the games Alexander played.
Alexander totaled eight tackles, forced one fumble and recovered one fumble in his three games with Denver before landing in Detroit.
Alexander, a 30-year-old veteran, and Cunningham joined the practice squad in September after the Broncos lost Alex Singleton to a season-ending knee injury. Cody Barton and Strnad have been starting at inside linebacker. Cunningham and Levelle Bailey will be the remaining depth options in Denver after the team lost Alexander.