As the Detroit Lions gear up for a key matchup with the Dallas Cowboys this week, they’ve made several roster moves to bolster their lineup.
The team made six roster transactions ahead of “Thursday Night Football,” per the NFL transactions report.
The Lions signed tight end Giovanni Ricci to the practice squad, as well as wide receiver Andrew Armstrong and running back Jabari Small. Another tight end Hayden Rucci was claimed off waivers from the Miami Dolphins. While, defensive back Tre Flowers and guard Netane Muti were released.
Adding tight end depth is expected after starter Sam LaPorta suffered a back fracture in week 10 and is likely out for the year. Backup tight end Brock Wright is sidelined with a neck/trachea injury that coach Dan Campbell has indicated could be “long-term” as the team continues to gather second opinions. In his absence, Ross Dwelley, Anthony Firkser, and Zach Horton currently headline the depth chart.
Ricci Returns to Michigan
An Ohio native, Ricci played college football at Western Michigan.
Ricci arrived at Western Michigan as a 6-foot-3, 195-pound wide receiver and completed his fifth-year senior season as a 240-pound tight end and John Mackey Award semifinalist.
As a fifth-year senior, he recorded 51 catches for 642 yards (12.6 per reception) and eight touchdowns, tying for the third-most among tight ends nationwide. A First Team All-MAC honoree, he also took part in the East-West Shrine Game. He earned his finance degree in April 2019.
After a lacerated spleen ended his sophomore season early, Ricci proved remarkably reliable, winning the Iron Bronco Award in 2019 for logging the most snaps in the regular season. Over 45 career games (21 starts), he totaled 98 receptions for 1,114 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Ricci broke into the NFL in 2020 with the Carolina Panthers following his career at Western Michigan. He stuck with Carolina for four seasons, seeing action in 36 games and earning four starts. He most recently had a stint with the Minnesota Vikings in training camp but was waived during final roster cuts and hasn’t latched on with another team since.
GettyEAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – AUGUST 18: Giovanni Ricci #45 of the Carolina Panthers runs the field during the first half of a preseason game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on August 18, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Two Other Additions Bring Offensive Depth
Armstrong is a practice squad returnee. The Arkansas rookie was released by the Miami Dolphins in late August after falling short of the initial 53-man roster, but has since landed in Detroit. In his final college season, Armstrong played in 11 games, hauling in 78 of 122 targets for 1,140 yards and a touchdown.
Small spent part of training camp with the Lions earlier this year but did not make the final roster. Last week, Detroit waived running back Craig Reynolds as part of its roster shuffling, and Reynolds went on to sign with the New England Patriots ’ practice squad. Small now effectively slots in as the team’s fifth running back, behind Jahmyr Gibbs , David Montgomery , Sione Vaki , and Jacob Saylors .
The former Tennessee Volunteer is in his second NFL season after going undrafted in 2024. At 5-foot-9 and 198 pounds, Small offers good burst but only average long speed, having run a 4.59 in the 40-yard dash. He has yet to appear in an NFL game.
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