Detroit Lions Claim Kevin O’Connell
September 1, 2009 by Stephen Kersey
Filed under Football
Over the weekend, the New England Patriots released Kevin O’Connell. The backup quarterback apparently didn’t live up to expectation and that forced the Patriots to move on to other quarterback options. On Tuesday, the Detroit Lions jumped at this opportunity.
According to multiple sources, the Lions have claimed O’Connell. After losing all 16 of their games last season, the Lions had the first crack at claiming O’Connell — and they did just that.
Detroit needed a quarterback due to injury. Drew Stanton, the third string quarterback, will reportedly undergo surgery this week to repair torn cartilage in his knee. Daunte Culpepper, who many analysts believe will start for the Lions at the beginning of the 2009 NFL season, needed stitches recently to repair a cut foot.
The Lions will get to take a look at O’Connell and the former Patriots backup could carve out a backup role in Detroit. If not, another team will likely take a chance on him if he’s put on the open market again.
Kevin O'Connell to the Detroit Lions (Image: Zuma Press)
