Lions promote WR Andy Jones, work out QB Nathan Peterman

Allen Park — The Detroit Lions held open a roster spot all week while navigating through a number of injury issues. It was just a matter of which practice-squad player would get promoted to address one of the team's depth concerns. 

On Saturday, it was wide receiver Andy Jones getting the call. 

Jones, who spent much of last season on Detroit's practice squad, and most of this year on the physically unable to perform list, was active for the team's Week 9 loss to Minnesota, playing 18 special teams snaps. 

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Jones bolsters a receiving corps missing Marvin Jones, who has been ruled out of Sunday's game against Carolina with a knee injury. The Lions have four other options on the roster — Kenny Golladay, TJ Jones, Brandon Powell and Bruce Ellington, who was signed a little more than a week ago. 

Running back Theo Riddick has also been getting some work at slot receiver following Golden Tate being dealt to the Philadelphia Eagles at the trade deadline. 

Struggling QB works out

Since the start of the regular season and up to the beginning of this week, the Lions had worked out more than 80 players, an annual tradition of keeping the front office's spreadsheet up to date with potential injury replacement options. 

Most the players are unknowns, with an occasional former star such as wide receiver Brandon Marshall, or player with local ties, such as Michigan State alums Aaron Burbridge and Bennie Fowler, rolling through town. But with only a handful of players ending up with contracts, workouts rarely merit mention. 

But an occasional visit can turn heads. According to an ESPN report, the Lions worked out quarterback Nathan Peterman last week. 

Peterman, a fifth-round pick out of Pittsburgh in 2017, was recently released by the Buffalo Bills after a disastrous stretch with the franchise.

In four games this season, he completed 54.3 percent of his passes with one touchdown and seven interceptions. His 30.7 passer rating is the lowest in the league, by far, among quarterbacks with at least 50 attempts.  

jdrogers@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @Justin_Rogers