Lions Shake Up O-Line Competition: Sign Jonathan Scott, Cut Johnny Culbreath

Photo Credit: DetroitLions.com

With preseason just around the corner and training camps about to kick into full swing for all 32 NFL teams, moves are being made right and left to in an effort to put the best and brightest on the field.

On Tuesday, the Detroit Lions made two moves, signing veteran offensive tackle Jonathan Scott to a one-year contract and releasing offensive tackle Johnny Culbreath to make room for Scott on the 90-man roster, per team’s press release.

Scott started his NFL career in Detroit, where he was drafted in the fifth round in 2006.  During final cuts prior to the 2008 season, Scott was waived by the Lions and subsequently signed with the Buffalo Bills, where he spent two seasons before signing with the Steelers in 2010.

Scott, 29, started 14 games for Pittsburgh over the past two seasons, including three contests in the postseason.  He became expendable however after the team took Ohio State OT Mike Adams in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft and re-signed OT Max Starks.

A seventh-round selection by the Lions in 2011, Johnny Culbreath was placed on injured reserve with an undisclosed illness his rookie season.  Culbreath was charged for marijuana possession in January while in South Carolina and paid a $412 fine.

It was the first of seven incidents this offseason involving law enforcement and Lions players over the ensuing six months.

Culbreath, 24, joins cornerback Aaron Berry, who was also released by the team on Monday, and second-year defensive tackle Nick Fairley (first-round-pick) and running back Mikel Leshoure (second-round selection), who inevitably remain on the team.

Tossed into the mix in what should be a terrific training camp competition, Scott will battle longtime starting left tackle Jeff Backus, former-first round pick (2008) and starting right tackle Gosder Cherilus, the 23rd overall pick from April in Riley Reiff, along with Corey Hilliard and Jason Fox.

Verse of This Piece: “Whoever gives to others will get richer; those who help others will themselves be helped.” —Proverbs 11:25

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