Detroit Lions Linebackers 12/19

The return of DeAndre Levy should offset the the loss of Stephen Tulloch. The man to watch is Kyle Van Noy make or break year.

Active Roster
DeAndre Levy
Tahir Whitehead
Josh Bynes
Antwoine Williams
Zaviar Gooden
Thurston Armbrister
Steve Longa

IR
Jon Bostic

Practice Squad
Brandon Chubb

Gone:
Stephen Tulloch
Travis Lewis
Kyle Van Noy

2015 STATS: DEFENSIVE ENDS
PLAYER	GAMES	TACKLES	SOLO	SACKS	INT	FORCED FUMBLES
DeAndre Levy	1	0	0	0	0	0
Tahir Whitehead	16	50	39	0	1	0
Kyle Van Noy	15	10	8	1	0	0
Josh Bynes	16	82	56	0.5	0	1
Antwione Williams*	13	107	50	4	0	4
Jon Bostic#	11	2	1	0	0	0
Jerry Franklin^	0	0	0	0	0	0
Zaviar Gooden^	0	0	0	0	0	0
Khaseem Greene^	0	0	0	0	0	0

DeAndre Levy 8th year in Detroit 90 games 83 starts
3rd round pick 2009
Lions stats: 681 tackles 12 int 5 FR
Playoff 2 games started 6 tackles
Preseason 49 tackles
College Wisconsin 211 tackles 15 sacks 6 FF 6 FR 2 int
Contract: 4 years $7,650,000

Levy should be back after missing 2015 with a hip injury. He is a legit three down backer. Placed on the NFI and his missed the first three weeks of camp so far. Missed 11 games due to knee surgery returned vs. Chicago.

Tahir Whitehead 5th year in Detroit 62 games 23 starts
5th round pick 2012
Lions stats: 157 tackles 3 int 2 FF
Playoffs 1 game started 6 tackles 1 sack
Preseason 51 tackles 3 sacks
College: Temple 50 games
contract 2 years $3,250,000
Combine: 6012 233 4.7 21 37 1007 4.16 7.14

Tahir re-signed for two years to start at MLB. He played well the second half and should be steady in 2016.

Josh Bynes 6th year in the NFL  55 games 20 starts 3rd year in Detroit 29 games 11 starts
Practice Squad 2014 Ravens
NFLstats: 183 tackles (Ravens)
Lions stats: 104 tackles 1 int 1 ff
Playoffs: 1 game 1 tackles
Preseason: 10 tackles 1 sack
College: Auburn 43 games 238 tackles
Contract 1 year $1,025,000
Pro Day: 6015 240 4.81 21 33 908 4.32 7.11

A versatile player who can play outside and in. Will see plenty of action in sub packages. Released for 53 man cuts. Re-signed October 25.

Kyle Van Noy 3rd year in Detroit 23 games
2nd round 2014 draft
Lions stats: 16 tackles
Playoffs 1 game
Preseason 11 tackle 4 PBU
College: 226 tackles 26 sacks 11 FF  7 int
Contract 2 years $1,391,483
Combine: 6031 242 4.71 21 32.5 904 4.2 7.22

Big year for KVN. Can he seize the starting Sam Spot? Or be a bust? Traded to New England October 25.

2016 Season: 7 games 274 snaps 23 tackles

Antwoine Williams Rookie 5th round pick
College: Ga Southern 50 games 28 starts 205 tackles 10 pBU 6 FF
Contract 4 years $501,115
Pro Day: 6026 240 4.8 23 35 910 4.58 7.03

Williams will fight for the 6th linebacker spot.

Jon Bostic 4th year in the NFL 40 games 16 starts 1st year in Detroit
Trade from Pats 2016
NFL Stats: 143 tackles 2 sacks 1 int (Bears, Pats)
College Florida 219 tackles 7.5 sacks 5 int
Contract: 1 year $942,381
Combine: 6007 245 4.61 22 33.5 910 6.99 4.24

A former starter for the Bears spent last year in the New England. Has a chance to stick in Detroit. Injured at the Steelers camp. Placed on short term Injured reserve with a foot injury.

Zaviar Gooden 3rd in the NFL 29 games 3 starts
FA 2016 Titans
NFL Stats: 36 tackles (titans)
College: Missouri 49 games 36 starts 256 tackles 5 int
Contract 1 year $600,000
Combine: 6014 233 4.47 27 38.5 1011 4.18 6.71

an athlete former third round pick will get a shot in Detroit. Cut September 3. Made 3 tackles in 27 snaps.

Khaseem Greene 4th year in the NFL 25 games 6 starts 2nd year in Detroit
FA 2015 Bears
NFL Stats: 44 tackles 1 int
College: Rutgers 51 games 387 tackles 11.5 sacks 9 int
Contract:1 year $600,000
Combine: 6006 241 4.67 17 34.5 908 4.2 7.58

A practice squad guy in 2015 was a former starter in Chicago. Will compete for the 6th spot.Cut September 3

Jerry Franklin 5th year in the NFL 20 games
FA 2016 Bears
NFL stats: 12 tackles Bears
College: Arkansas 51 games 50 starts 382 tackles 10 sacks 5 int
Contract 1 year $675,000
Pro Day: 6013 242 4.63 15 37.5 1003 4.38 6.93

a veteran who is a long shot to stick. Waived July 28th just before camp began.

Dominique Tovell UDFA
UDFA 2016
College: Louisiana-Lafayette 222 tackles 10.5 sacks 3 FF
Contract: 3 years
Pro Day: 6017 235 4.56 22 37.5 909 4.37 6.91

Picked up just before camp on July 28 after being waived by the saints. Looks for a practice squad spot. Waived on August 1. Re-signed August 15. Waived August 30.

Raphael Kirby UDFA
UDFA 2016
College: Miami 39 games 19 starts 124 tackles 1 sack 2 ff 2 int
Contract 3 years
Combine 27 bench pro day 33 bench

Kirby tore up his knee in October ending his season at Miami. Just passed his physical and will get a shot at a practice squad slot. Waived August 5 after a knee injury.

Chi Chi Ariguzo 2nd year in the NFL
Free Agent 2016
College: Northwestern 48 games 335 tackles 7sacks 6 int 2 ff
Contract: 1 year
Pro Day: 6012 236 4.73 21 36 911 7.24 4.48

Spent the year on the Chargers Injured Reserve. Signed on August 5 replaces Raphael Kirby. Will get reps. Waived August 1.

Jayson DiManche 4th year in the NFL 29 games 1 start
Waivers 2016 Bengals
NFL Stats: 28 tackles 1 FF
College Southern Illinois 145 tackles 19 sacks 3 FF 1int
Contract 1 year
Pro Day: 6004 231 4.53 24 38 1100 7.19 4.26

Acquired off of waivers on August 30 from the Bengals. A stud athlete who excels on special teams. Cut September 3.

Thurston Armbrister 2nd year int he NFL 16 games 3 start
Waivers Jags 2016
NFL Stats: 23 tackles 1 PBU
College: Miami 38 games 23 starts 129 tackles 7 sacks 2 Ff 2 FR
Contract 2 years
Pro Day 6016 235 4.69 20 33.5 9.08 4.44 6.89

A player under Kyle O'Brien with the Jags. A contributor on special teams.

Steve Longa UDFA 2016
Practice Squad from Seattle
College: Rutgers 37 starts 335 tackles 7 sacks 5 FF 7 PD
Contract Practice Squad
Combine: 6005 241 4.78 19 32 908 4.56 7.5
Pro Day 6005 241 4.73 21 1000 4.21 7.35

Called up for special Teams duty vs. the Eagles

Brandon Chubb UDFA 2016
Practice Squad from Los Angeles Rams
College: Wake Forest 313 tackles 3.5 sacks 1 int
Contract Practice Squad
Pro Day: 6001 235 4.68 23 34" 1001 6.85 4.22

Released 12/17 from the practice squad.