Lions take advantage of NFL rule not many people know about
The Detroit Lions made one intriguing addition following the fast-paced action over the weekend surround the 2023 NFL Draft. The Lions dipped into the international pool signing Australian tight end Patrick Murtagh. Born in Brisbane, Murtagh joins the Lions by way of the International Pathway Program as one of just eight players designated to teams […]
The Detroit Lions made one intriguing addition following the fast-paced action over the weekend surround the 2023 NFL Draft.
The Lions dipped into the international pool signing Australian tight end Patrick Murtagh. Born in Brisbane, Murtagh joins the Lions by way of the International Pathway Program as one of just eight players designated to teams in the NFC North and AFC West.
It’s important to note that Murtagh will be with the team all the way through training camp with a special exempt status on the practice squad if he doesn’t crack the Lions’ 53-man roster.
The 6’5” pass-catcher honed his skills with IPP coach/Super Bowl winning tight end Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs. While Murtagh’s game is still a bit raw, he possesses the athleticism to develop into a true NFL tight end.
Considering the fact that Murtagh’s time with Lions won’t come to an end after training camp, the team will continue to work with him all the way through the regular season. If at any point Detroit decides to activate Murtagh, like the Eagles did with now starting LT Jordan Mailata, he will lose his exemption and be treated like any other player.
It’s an exciting addition for the Lions, who will spend training camp learning more about what they have at the position in general. It’s also an important step for the NFL as the league continues to grow the sport across the world.
