NFL journeyman could force his way into the Lions' 53-man roster discussion

The Detroit Lions' Jack Campbell has firmly entrenched himself as one of the NFL's premier off-ball linebackers — and players in general, for that matter. He's blossomed into a long-term mainstay, though the club lost significant talent at his position following Alex Anzalone and Grant Stuard's offseason departures.

Enter Joe Bachie, whom the Lions inked to a one-year $1.215 million “prove-it” deal in April. He isn’t exactly a household name by any means but offers valuable experience and is a homegrown product of sorts as a Michigan State alumnus. His contract suggests no one expects him to come in and single-handedly replace Anzalone and Stuard, yet a massive opportunity presents itself.

Bachie went undrafted and began his pro career with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2020 before spending 2021 through 2024 as a member of the Cincinnati Bengals. He earned a starting job as the Indianapolis Colts' weakside linebacker last summer, which ultimately proved futile, leading to a brief stint with the Tennessee Titans.

Nevertheless, with Anzalone and Stuard's exits in mind, Bachie might quietly have multiple paths to relevance in Detroit, and it all starts with training camp.

LB Joe Bachie is an under-the-radar name to watch at Detroit Lions training camp

Long story short, Bachie is a journeyman in every sense of the world, with the Motor City being the next stop in his well-traveled journey. He'll compete with fan-favorite Malcolm Rodriguez, fourth-round rookie Jimmy Rolder, fellow free-agent addition Damone Clark, Trevor Nowaske and unheralded newcomer Erick Hunter for the Lions' LB3 gig.

It won't be easy for Bachie to make a name for himself amongst the bunch. Rodriguez appears to be the in-house favorite to get the nod, albeit far from a lock. Rolder has meaningful draft capital working in his favor, and Clark sat atop the Dallas Cowboys' depth chart in 2023.

Be that as it may, Anzalone assumed enormous responsibilities and served as a leader of the locker room from the moment he joined the Lions in 2021. The impact of his decision to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers cannot be overstated. Losing him leaves 1,004 vacated snaps from last season for Bachie and Co.

Then there's Stuard, whose 375 special teams snaps paced Detroit in 2025. It's hard to stand out in the third unit; however, he epitomized what it means to be a star in your role. His energy and tackling ability were on full display, and Bachie can fill that void.

Solid contributions in the kicking game have gotten Bachie to this point. The 28-year-old can find his niche with the Lions and be part of their committee approach to replicating Anzalone's presence.

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This article was originally published on sidelionreport.com as NFL journeyman could force his way into the Lions' 53-man roster discussion.