Lions add six more to practice squad, including reunion with QB David Blough

Allen Park — A year after parting ways with the Detroit Lions, the team is bringing back quarterback David Blough as part of the practice squad.

He was one of six additions to the unit announced Thursday, along with defensive lineman Quinton Bohanna, wide receiver Daurice Fountain, defensive lineman Raymond Johnson, running back Zonovan Knight and guard Michael Niese.

Blough, undrafted out of Purdue in 2019, originally signed with the Cleveland Browns, but was traded to the Lions days after the conclusion of the preseason that year. He would spend the next three seasons in Detroit, appearing in seven games, including five starts during that 2019 campaign.

Blough entered training camp last year competing with Tim Boyle to be Jared Goff's backup, but both struggled and were subsequently released ahead of the season. The team opted to sign Nate Sudfeld to fill the backup role in 2022.

The Lions attempted to sign Blough to the practice squad after letting him go, but he chose a fresh start, signing with the Minnesota Vikings. In December, he was signed by the Arizona Cardinals off the Vikings' practice squad and ended up making two late-season starts for the franchise. In those games, he completed 65.5% of his passes for 402 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Blough will replace Sudfeld, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in the preseason finale, and undrafted rookie Adrian Martinez, as the third QB on Detroit's depth chart behind Goff and veteran Teddy Bridgewater. The Lions also have third-round draft pick Hendon Hooker, who will begin the season on the non-football injury list while he continues to rehab his way back from an ACL tear he suffered at the University of Tennessee last year.

As for the other additions, the Knight agreement was reported by his agent on Wednesday. The former Jets running back had an impactful debut as a rookie last season, making four starts and rushing for 300 yards on 85 carries.

Bohanna, a sixth-round pick out of Kentucky, spent his first two seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. The 6-foot-4, 360-pound nose tackle appeared in 27 games during that stretch, including 10 starts.

Fountain and Johnson bring limited regular-season experience to the table. Fountain appeared in eight games for the Colts and Chiefs the past three seasons., while Johnson saw action in 15 contests for the Giants in 2022.

Niese hasn't appeared in a regular-season game, but the former Temple Owl has seen time at both guard spots, as well as center during the past two preseasons with Tampa Bay and Denver.

jdrogers@detroitnews.com

Twitter/X: @Justin_Rogers