The Detroit Lions activated Da’Shawn Hand from injured reserve Saturday, clearing him to play in Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Hand suffered a groin injury in training camp and has not played this season.
He has missed 29 of a possible 55 games in his three-plus-year career, but his return gives the Lions (0-7) enviable depth on the defensive line heading into Tuesday’s trade deadline.
Along with Hand, who is in the final year of his rookie contract, the Lions have veterans Michael Brockers, Nick Williams and Trey Flowers up front, plus rookies Alim McNeill and Levi Onwuzurike and second-year nose tackle John Penisini.