DETROIT – The Detroit Lions activated safety Jayron Kearse after he served a three-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on substance abuse.
Detroit released running back Ty Johnson on Thursday to clear a roster spot for Kearse.
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The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Kearse signed a one-year, $2 million deal with Detroit as a free agent. He spent four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings after being selected in the seventh round in the 2016 draft. Kearse was mostly a backup who played regularly on special teams for the Vikings.
The Lions drafted Johnson out of Maryland in the sixth round last year and he had 63 carries for 273 yards as a rookie. Johnson did not have a rushing attempt in two games this season, getting pushed out of the backfield by veteran Adrian Peterson, Kerryon Johnson and rookie D'Andre Swift.
Detroit (1-2) hosts New Orleans (1-2) on Sunday.
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