Josh Woods considered his time in Detroit with the Lions this past year as a fresh start after the team signed him off Chicago's practice squad Week 3.
Woods instantly became one of Detroit's best special teams players, but for the first time in his career he was also given an opportunity to compete for playing time on defense. He made a career-high 13 tackles in a December loss in Denver, before finishing the season on injured reserve with a neck injury.
The Lions re-signed the restricted free agent on Tuesday, and Woods thinks the date he put pen to paper on a new contract isn't a coincidence.
"I kind of felt like I had a ceiling beforehand and I came here and had a fresh start," Woods told detroitlions.com after signing his contract Tuesday. "Ironically enough, it's 2-22 (February 22nd), 2022 at 222 Republic Drive (Lions headquarters address) and those three twos, that angel number, is supposed to represent a fresh start, if you're into numerology and things of that nature. I was like no way are all of these twos keep coming together today. So, I looked it up and it means a fresh start."
Woods, 25, played mostly on special teams the last two seasons in Chicago as an undrafted player out of Maryland. He talked this year about enjoying the opportunity to play some defense here in Detroit after being pigeon-holed as just a special teamer early in his career.
He appeared in 12 games (one start) for Detroit last season and totaled 21 tackles (16 solo), two tackles for loss, two quarterback hits and seven special teams tackles (five solo). His 113 defensive snaps played this year in Detroit were more than double his career snaps on defense up to that point.
"One of my first conversations with coach (Dan) Campbell we were in stretch lines at practice and he walks up and goes, 'Hey man, how you doing? Coach Campbell. We're ready to get you rolling on special teams right away and the quicker you learn this defense the quicker you'll be out there on this field,'" Woods said of his first interaction with Campbell.
"That was kind of the first time that a head coach would say something of that nature to me. Straight up with me. Very refreshing. It was different than what I was used to."
Woods has appeared in 37 career games (one start) and has logged 28 tackles (20 solo), two tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, one fumble recovery and 19 special teams tackles (13 solo).
View photos of Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes during his first year with the team
Derrick Barnes during Rookie Mini Camp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during OTAs at Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) Detroit Lions General Manager Brad Holmes during OTAs at Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) Arriving at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2021. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Allison Geronimo (18) Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during a NFL football preseason game against the Buffalo Bills on Friday, August 13, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) celebrates after a pass break up during a NFL football preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday, August 21, 2021 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during a NFL football preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts on Friday, August 27, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during a NFL football preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts on Friday, August 27, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during a NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers on September 20, 2021 in Green Bay, WI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during a NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, September 26, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during a NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on October 10, 2021 in Minneapolis, MN. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during a NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, October 17, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55), Detroit Lions safety Will Harris (25), Detroit Lions cornerback Amani Oruwariye (24) during a NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, October 17, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during a NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, October 24, 2021 in Inglewood, CA. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) traveling to California to take on the on the Los Angeles Rams on October 23, 2021. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during a NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, November 21, 2021 in Cleveland, OH. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during a NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Thursday, November 25, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during a NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Thursday, November 25, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) celebrates during a NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, December 5, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during a NFL football game against the Denver Broncos on December 12, 2021 in Denver, CO. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during a NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, December 19, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) and Detroit Lions outside linebacker Austin Bryant (2) celebrate during a NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons on December 26, 2021 in Atlanta, GA. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during a NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks on January 2, 2022 in Seattle, WA. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during a NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, January 9, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
The Lions linebacker room could go through some significant changes this offseason. Starters Alex Anzalone and Jalen Reeves-Maybin will be unrestricted free agents in March. Derrick Barnes is expected to be in the mix for a starting job heading into his second season after recording 67 tackles (42 solo) with four tackles for loss and two sacks as a rookie.
Woods now returns for the 2022 season as one of Detroit's core special teams players, and will be given an opportunity to compete for a role on defense as well.
"I'm extremely thankful for how the stars are kind of aligning right now," Woods said. "There's still a lot of work to be done, don't get me wrong, I don't think I've arrived by any means, but the fact that I get to fight for something is all you can ask for."
