Lions found replacer of injured DeVries

Soon after they lost Jared DeVries for injured tendon, the Detroit Lions signed veteran defensive lineman Shaun Smith with a $1 million, one-year deal Monday to bolster their injury-depleted defensive line.


DeVries started 29 games the past three seasons while playing for the Lions. He had to undergo surgery after he ruptured his Achilles' tendon, so it becomes impossible for him to play for the team this season.

Smith was released by the Cleveland Browns Saturday suddenly and the reason was said to be talking freely and involved in a weight-room fight with quarterback Brady Quinn. He was signed by the Browns in 2007 with a four-year deal worth $8.6 million after playing three seasons with Cincinnati. While playing for the Browns, Smith started totally 20 games in two seasons.

Lions DE DeVries needs season-ending surgery

The Detroit Lions will have go through this season without defensive end Jared DeVries, who left the practice field on a cart Monday with a ruptured tendon. He will have to undergo a season-ending surgery to repair the tendon.


DeVries has been with the Lions for 10 years since he was drafted out of Iowa in 1999. He has played in 120 games for the Lions and started 29 games the past three seasons for them. He was also the pupil of the late Ed Thomas, who was shot to death y a former player in June, at Aplington-Parkersburg High School in Iowa.

The Lions currently held receiver Calvin Johnson out of practice for precautionary reasons after Johnson had jammed his thumb. Rookie safety Louis Delmas has been back after missing several practices with a sore knee.