The Lions are hosting a former second-round pick on a free-agent visit Thursday.
Linebacker Bruce Carter, who spent four years with Dallas before joining Tampa Bay in 2015, will be in Allen Park as the Lions look for more depth at linebacker.
Carter, 28, has experience playing middle, weak-side and strong-side linebacker, which would help him fit in with a versatile group of Lions linebackers. He visited the Jets on Wednesday.
The Buccaneers cut Carter earlier this month just one year into his four-year, $17 million contract. Carter played 14 games but had just three starts last year, finishing with 47 tackles, two sacks and two passes defensive.