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The Detroit Lions are signing receiver Bruce Ellington and waiving running back Ameer Abdullah, according to a Tuesday report by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Rapoport noted Detroit explored Abdullah’s trade market prior to last week’s NFL trade deadline, but no deal was made.
A second-round pick in 2015, Abdullah turned some heads by compiling 597 rushing yards, 183 receiving yards and three total touchdowns during his rookie season. He was unable to build on that performance, however, as he was limited to just two games because of a foot injury in 2016.
The 5’9″, 203-pound back was able to bounce back a season ago, though, running for 552 yards, catching 162 yards and finding the end zone a career-high five times.
Unfortunately for him, all of that momentum came to a screeching halt this year.
The arrivals of free-agent signing LeGarrette Blount and second-round pick Kerryon Johnson pushed Abdullah down the depth chart. While that may discourage some players, Abdullah remained committed to trying to prove his value to Lions coaches.
“I’m definitely not in the position I want to be right now, but like I said, what’s for me will be,” Abdullah said in late September, according to Justin Rogers of the Detroit News. “I still come here every day and work as hard as I can to do what I can when my number is called.”
His number was barely called this season. The fourth-year pro appeared in just three games through the first nine weeks, picking up one yard on one rushing attempt and catching two pbades for 18 yards.
Ultimately, the Lions decided it was time to move on.
Ellington spent the first two years of his career with the San Francisco 49ers after they drafted him in the fourth round in 2014. The 5’9″, 195-pound wideout joined the Houston Texans prior to the 2017 season. He appeared in three games this year, recording eight catches for 92 yards and one touchdown before he suffered a hamstring injury that led to his release.
Detroit’s receiving corps took a hit last week when the Lions traded veteran Golden Tate to the Philadelphia Eagles at Tuesday’s deadline. Ellington will look to work his way into the Lions’ pbading attack alongside Marvin Jones Jr., Kenny Golladay and Co.
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