The time has come for Dan Orlovsky to find another uniform than the Honolulu Blue of the Detroit Lions. In an interview today with Sirius XM Radio‘s Ross Tucker, Orlovsky told the host that the team has decided to go “in a different direction” as it pertains to their backup for Matthew Stafford.
Orlovsky’s career has been as a perennial backup since the 2005 season. During his career, he’s been with the Lions three different times (2005, 2008, and 2015), with stops in Tampa Bay, Houston, and Indianapolis in between. He has started 12 games in his career and last saw action in two games during the 2015 season. According to Pro Football Reference, he is responsible for seven starts, nine touchdowns, and nine interceptions with the Lions.
Though the interview was today, it seems Orlovsky had this conversation with the team a few days earlier, hinting he would be leaving in this rather telling tweet:
Detroit
Vs
EverybodyIt'll always be where it started for me. It'll always have a piece of my heart.
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) February 11, 2017
It seems as though the heir apparent to the title of backup quarterback is Jake Rudock, a sixth-round pick out of the University of Michigan in 2015. Rudock made a strong case for the job last season, ultimately being signed to the practice squad. However, he did prove rather capable during the preseason, and many were giving him the job to begin with.
Hopefully, Rudock will only see as much action as Orlovsky did; but if he does, at least we’ll be in (somewhat) capable hands.
