The Detroit Lions have claimed defensive tackle D'Anthony Smith off waivers from Seattle.
In a corresponding move, the Lions released defensive tackle Justin Bannan.
This comes on the heels of Detroit bringing back defensive lineman Andre Fluellen following Jason Jones' season-ending patellar tendon injury.
It's a curious move for Detroit. By releasing Bannan, it felt like the Lions were going to open up a slot to either trade for or pick up a receiver since Nate Burleson will be out for an undetermined period of time healing from a broken forearm.
Instead, the Lions added Smith, who had five tackles this season and 15 in his two-year career between Jacksonville and Seattle. It is tough to see Smith being any higher than Detroit's fourth defensive tackle behind Ndamukong Suh, Nick Fairley and C.J. Mosley. And the Lions had just brought in Fluellen, who can play defensive tackle as well.
Smith was clearly a valued player, though. He was drafted by Jacksonville in the third round of the 2010 draft and then spent his first two seasons with the Jaguars on injured reserve.
An interesting caveat to this move is there is some familiarity there between Smith and Mosley. They played together for the past three seasons in Jacksonville before Smith was traded to Seattle and Mosley came to Detroit.
Now they are reunited.
In one other move, the Lions did add a receiver Wednesday. They brought rookie Charles Hawkins -- a 5-foot-8, 180-pound product of Southern University -- on to the practice squad.
