Special teams standout Jalen Reeves-Maybin returning to Detroit Lions
Jalen Reeves-Maybin is coming home.
A special-teams standout with the Detroit Lions in 2017-21, Reeves-Maybin agreed to a one-year contract with the team Wednesday, his agent, Brian McLaughlin, tweeted.
Reeves-Maybin made 11 starts at linebacker in 2021 but played his most significant role on special teams during his five years in Detroit. He led the Lions in special teams tackles in 2021, special teams snaps in 2020 and was a four-core player for most of his time with the team, covering punts and kicks and playing on return teams.
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A fourth-round pick out of Tennessee in 2017, Reeves-Maybin had 172 tackles in five seasons with the Lions before signing a free agent deal with the Houston Texans last spring. On special teams, he made 41 tackles and forced two fumbles in Detroit.
The Texans released Reeves-Maybin at the start of free agency.
Back in Detroit, Reeves-Maybin should once again play a key role in the kicking game this fall.
The Lions re-signed special teams standout C.J. Moore to a two-year deal last week and tendered linebacker Anthony Pittman as an exclusive rights free agent, but could lose three core special teams players in linebackers Josh Woods and Chris Board and running back Justin Jackson.
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Board signed with the New England Patriots last week, and Woods, who led the Lions with 10 special teams tackles last season, and Jackson, the Lions' primary kick returner in 2022, remain free agents.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions sign Jalen Reeves-Maybin to 1-year contract
