It’s been a long time since New York Jets linebacker has regularly seen himself in the starting slot on a depth chart, dating back to his days at the University of Pennsylvania. While it was a victorious end for Copeland, as he captained the Quakers to an Ivy League title, his NFL journey has been a bit rocky.
Undrafted, Copeland, 27, bounced around several organizations, and even had a brief stint in the Arena League, before finally finding some semblance of a home in Detroit in 2015. A contract with the Lions was the reward of a strong showing at the 2015 NFL Veterans Combine, becoming one of two players (along with former Arizona Cardinals tight end Ifeanyi Momah) to earn a contract from the event.