Allen Park, Mich. – The Detroit Lions announced today that they have signed free agent DE Robert Ayers and waived CB Josh Okonye. Contract terms were not disclosed.
Ayers joins the Lions for his 10th NFL season after spending the past two years (2016-17) with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he appeared in 12 games (10 starts) in both seasons. He totaled 31 total tackles (20 solo), 2.0 sacks and two forced fumbles in 2017.
A former first-round pick (18th overall) in the 2009 NFL Draft with the Denver Broncos, Ayers spent his first five seasons (2009-13) in Denver before playing two seasons with the New York Giants from 2014-15. For his career, he has played in 120 games (59 starts) and has notched 264 tackles (191 solo), 35.0 sacks, 108 quarterback hits, 51 tackles for loss and nine forced fumbles.
