Bruce Irvin. Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

Lions adding veteran pass-rusher for stretch run

By Adam Gretz | Last updated 11/14/23

The Detroit Lions already have one of the best teams in the NFC and are looking to add a little more juice to their pass rush for the stretch run of the regular season and playoffs.

They are signing veteran pass-rusher Bruce Irvin on Tuesday and will initially be adding him to their practice squad.

Veteran pass rusher Bruce Irvin is signing with the #Lions, per his agent Daniela Salazar.

Irvin will start out on the practice squad. He has 55.5 career sacks. pic.twitter.com/wJRSQcmLaW
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 14, 2023

Irvin has played 11 years in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks, Oakland Raiders, Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers, recording 55.5 sacks during that time.

He spent the 2022 season with the Seahawks, appearing in 10 games and recording 3.5 sacks.

He played in just eight games total during the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

Irvin is 36 years old and a fraction of the player he was during his prime, but if the Lions use him correctly and play him in limited snaps where he can focus entirely on getting after the quarterback there might still be some value there for them to benefit from.

The Lions have a rising star in edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, but could always use more depth when it comes to getting to the quarterback.

Irvin was at one time one of the best in the league at it and the Lions are hoping he still has something left in the tank to help make them an even tougher contender in the NFC this season.

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