Fearing practice-squad poaching, the Lions signed the former top linebacker from SVSU.

However, the Lions made room for the former standout player from Saginaw Valley State University when they realized they would be losing practice squad linebacker Trevor Nowaske to another team. While they were abroad for the week, they promoted Nowaske and waived running back Devine Ozigbo.

Head coach of the Lions, Dan Campbell, acknowledged that “yeah, he was being poached, maybe.” “We were not willing to lose him. We believed we were adaptable enough to make that change. We have a feeling that before everything is said and done, we will need him.

“We approve of his direction. He’s just another young player who’s rapidly maturing and improving in our squad.

Nowaske became an undrafted rookie free agent and signed with the Lions. Before joining the practice squad, he trained camp and the offseason around these parts. Nowaske has been working closely with the team’s coaching staff for about seven months, so that has benefited him in this scenario.

It is unlikely that he will break into the defensive rotation any time soon. However, Nowaske might soon embark on special team projects with Rodriguez, Pittman, and Reeves-Maybin.

“At this moment, that room is good. Counting him, all seven of them are men,” Campbell remarked. “It’s amazing how much room they have between their defensive capabilities. Special teams, too, of course. We depend on them heavily, after all. We were not willing to lose him (Nowaske).

While many people scoff at seven linebackers, it’s important to remember that special team player Khalil Dorsey suffered an injury during the Monday night football game leading up to the bye week. Dorsey led the Lions in snaps during that phase, so it’s understandable that Nowaske, being an athlete, could see a window of opportunity.

When he entered the draft, the Saginaw Valley State product was a darling according to his relative score. Nowaske’s speed and agility tests were so impressive that he received a 9.86 (out of 10) on them. In addition to his 4.5-second 40-yard dash, the 6-foot-3, 235-pound linebacker also completed 25 repetitions of the bench press and a 34.5-inch vertical jump. He has been working with the team’s defensive and special teams coaches for the past seven months, and he may soon have a shot.