(Photo: Duane Burleson, Associated Press)
Allen Park — The New England Patriots have made a habit out of adding players they got an up-close look at during joint practices, so it’s no surprise the Lions — run and coached by a pair of former Patriots employees — have started to dabble in a similar practice.
Last year, after hosting the New York Giants for joint practices, the Lions were able to snag defensive end Romeo Okwara off waivers. That move worked out better than could have been reasonably expected. Okwara played major snaps in place of injured starter Ziggy Ansah and wound up leading the team in quarterback pressures.