Lions place Theo Riddick on IR, sign WR Jace Billingsley to roster
For the second time this year, the Detroit Lions have lost their leading rusher to a season-ending injury.
The Lions placed running back Theo Riddick on injured reserve today, a day ahead of their NFC North showdown with the Green Bay Packers.
Riddick, who leads the Lions with 357 yards rushing, has missed the last three games with a wrist injury.
He signed a three-year contract extension before the start of the season after tying for the NFL lead in receptions by a running back last year.
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Earlier this year, the Lions, who rank 30th in the NFL in rushing, placed Ameer Abdullah on injured reserve following foot surgery.
The Lions signed receiver Jace Billingsley off the practice squad to take Riddick's place.
Billingsley signed with the Lions this season as an undrafted rookie free agent from Eastern Oregon. He made a strong bid to earn a roster spot with 12 receptions for 146 yards and two touchdowns in the exhibition season, but was waived before the season and signed to the team's practice squad.
To take Billingsley's spot on the practice squad, the Lions signed tight end Kennard Backman.
Backman, a sixth-round pick by the Packers in the 2015 draft out of UAB, most recently was with the New England Patriots on their practice squad. He played seven games for the Packers last season.
The team also added right tackle Riley Reiff to the injury report as questionable with a hip injury.
Contact Dave Birkett: dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.