The Detroit Lions are keeping one of their own in the trenches.
On Tuesday, the team announced it has re-signed offensive lineman Michael Niese, continuing its trend of retaining reliable depth options across the roster.
Originally signed as an undrafted free agent, Niese spent time on the Lions’ practice squad in 2023 and clearly made enough of an impression to warrant another shot in 2024. He appeared in 17 games in 2024, though he did not get a start.
The re-signing might not make national headlines, but for a team eyeing a Super Bowl push in 2025, maintaining OL depth is quietly critical. With veterans like Frank Ragnow and Graham Glasgow dealing with injury concerns in recent seasons, having players like Niese ready to step in can be a difference-maker in the long haul when it comes to depth players.
Expect Niese to compete for a backup role during training camp, particularly on the interior line where the Lions continue to evaluate long-term answers.
