Redskins.com's Stephen Czarda recaps what the Redskins' 2016 opponents have done in free agency so far. Today's look is at the Lions.
The Washington Redskins and Detroit Lions have met 18 times during the regular season. Here's a look back at some of those games.
While the Washington Redskins don't know when 15 of their 16 games during the 2016 regular season will take place (their game against the Cincinnati Bengals has been confirmed for Oct. 30 at Wembley Stadium in London), they do know who they will be facing already.
2016 Home Games: Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants.
2016 Away Games: Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals (London), Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions, Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants.
While teams are still making some moves in free agency, here's a look at what the Redskins' opponents have done to date since Super Bowl 50, continuing with a look at what the Detriot Lions have done to date in free agency:
After a disappointing 2015 season in which they finished with a 7-9 record following a playoff season in 2014, the Lions have been busy this offseason in hopes that they can have a quick turnaround back to the playoffs.
They've signed, among others, wide receivers Marvin Jones and Jeremy Kerley, defensive backs Rafael Bush, Johnson Bademosi, Darrin Wells and Tavon Wilson and Dan Orlovsky.
Late last week, running back Stevan Ridley announced on Instagram he is joining the team. Ridley struggled in his lone season with the New York Jets following an ACL tear, as he managed just 36 carries for 90 yards. But the LSU product does have a 1,000-yard season to his credit.
The Lions will sorely miss the contributions of Calvin Johnson, a perennial Pro Bowl who announced his retirement earlier this year.
In nine seasons – all in Detroit – Johnson totaled 731 receptions for 11,619 yards and 83 touchdowns.
The Georgia Tech product set an NFL single-season receiving yards record in 2012 when he totaled 1,864 yards.
The Lions are hopeful that Jones and Kerley can help soften the blow of his departure, though.
Jones is coming off the best season of his career, as he hauled in 65 receptions for 816 yards and four touchdowns last season with the Bengals.
Kerley, meanwhile, has more than 2,000 receiving yards in his career with nine touchdowns.
While the Lions were middle of the pack in terms of pass defense in 2015, allowing 236.6 passing yards per game, they tied for the third fewest interceptions.
Bademosi, Walls and Wilson aren't household names, but they provide the Lions some youth in the defensive backfield.
The team also re-signed cornerback Crezdon Butler, who briefly spent time with the Redskins during the 2012 season.
The Lions last week also announced the signing of guard Geoff Schwartz.
Schwartz, 29, played most recently with the Giants, starting 11 games last season. He could very well replace Manny Ramirez, who bolted from Detroit after the 2015 season in favor of the Vikings.
The Lions also re-signed nose tackle Haloti Ngata, who they traded for last season from the Ravens.
Ngata, a five-time Pro Bowler, started 14 games last season, totaling 24 tackles with three passes defensed and 2.5 sacks.
2016 Opponent Scouting Reports:
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