Happy Thanksgiving: Henson signs two-year deal
The Lions signed Drew Henson on Monday to a two-year contract. He'll be the backup to starter Daunte Culpepper when the Lions face Tennessee (10-1) on Thursday at Ford Field. To make room, the team put defensive end Jared DeVries on injured reserve after he re-broke his left hand Sunday in the loss to Tampa Bay.
Henson, the former two-sport star who gave up a pro baseball career in 2004 to give football a second try, last played in an NFL regular-season game with the Dallas Cowboys in 2004. That also was his only NFL start -- on Thanksgiving Day, no less -- when the former University of Michigan standout was benched in favor of veteran Vinny Testeverde.
"Apparently, I only play on Thanksgivings," Henson joked Monday. "The irony is definitely there."
Henson, 28, joined the Lions' practice squad this fall after several short-lived stints with other NFL teams -- and a season with NFL Europe -- the last few years. He was signed to the Lions' 53-player roster in October after starter Jon Kitna was injured, but had since been relegated back to the practice squad with the signing of Culpepper.
But second-stringer Drew Stanton suffered a concussion in Sunday's loss to Tampa Bay and likely won't be available for Thursday's game. Dan Orlovsky, who started four games after Kitna went down, is still sidelined with a fractured right thumb.
"This has kind of been a crazy fall," Henson said. "Five months ago, I was at home. So I've really not tried to think about too much or down the road. I just kind of go with the flow, and this opportunity has arisen."
