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The Detroit Lions have been busy shaping their practice squad ahead of the 2025 season opener against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. And in true NFC North fashion, they’ve added a familiar face to help bolster their defensive depth.
Meet Andre Carter II
The newest Lion is edge-rusher Andre Carter II, who closes out the practice squad signings. Carter first made waves at Army, where he was an absolute force on defense. Across three seasons, he tallied 95 tackles, 19.5 sacks, and two interceptions. His standout season came when he racked up 15.5 sacks—good enough for second-most in the nation behind Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr. That kind of production is what first put him on NFL radars.
From Vikings to Raiders … and Now Detroit
Carter’s NFL journey hasn’t exactly been smooth. He entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Minnesota Vikings in 2023. While he saw the field in 12 games, most of his snaps came on special teams, where he recorded two tackles.
Last season, he suited up for the Las Vegas Raiders, appearing in three games and managing to snag a sack, a tackle, and a quarterback hit. He also showed up strong in this year’s preseason, posting two sacks and seven quarterback pressures in three appearances. Despite that promise, the Raiders waived him just last week—paving the way for Detroit to scoop him up.
Insurance for the Pass Rush
Right now, Detroit’s pass-rush starters are Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport, with Al-Quadin Muhammad, Pat O’Connor, and Tyrus Wheat behind them. If injuries strike (as they often do over the course of a season), Carter could be the first man tapped to jump from the practice squad to the active roster.
He’ll join another edge rusher, Isaac Ukwu, who played two games for Detroit last year, as well as several other defenders—Keith Cooper, Myles Adams, Erick Hallett, Anthony Pittman, and Loren Strickland—who round out the defensive practice squad.
What This Means for the Lions
Carter might not be a headline-grabbing addition just yet, but he’s the kind of depth piece that can prove invaluable when the season grinds on. His college production shows what he’s capable of, and his preseason flashes hint that he might have more to give if given the chance.
Sometimes, the difference between a deep playoff run and an early exit comes down to whether you had enough guys ready to step up. With Carter now in the fold, the Lions are making sure they won’t get caught short-handed in the trenches.