Bruce Irvin impresses Lions with conditioning, team aims to improve football shape

Detroit Lions add veteran edge rusher Bruce Irvin to practice squad, look to add experience to team's NFC playoff run.

The Detroit Lions have a plethora of edge rushers on their roster, but coach Dan Campbell believes that a team can never have too many. That's why the team added 36-year-old Bruce Irvin to the practice squad. The move was part of a strategy to add veteran voices to the locker room as the team enters a crucial stretch in the NFC playoff race.

Campbell compared the addition of Irvin to that of offensive lineman Michael Schofield, emphasizing the difficulty of finding quality players as the season progresses. Irvin brings a wealth of experience, having played in 138 games and made 103 starts during his 11-year career. However, having not played since last season, he will need to prove himself in practice before earning a spot in a game.

Campbell praised Irvin's physical condition but noted that he is not yet in football shape. Irvin's career stats include 55.5 sacks and 16 forced fumbles, and if he can still perform at a high level, he could provide much-needed help to the Lions' pass rush, which has struggled to consistently pressure opposing quarterbacks.

If Irvin is promoted to the main roster, he will join a rotation that includes Aidan Hutchinson, Charles Harris, John Cominsky, Josh Paschal, and the Okwara brothers, Romeo and Julian. Hutchinson leads the team with 4.5 sacks, while the other five edge rushers have combined for the same amount.

In addition to adding Irvin to the practice squad, the Lions officially moved long snapper Jake McQuaid to the active roster and placed guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai on injured reserve due to a back injury. These moves reflect the team's efforts to bolster its roster for the remainder of the season.

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