Detroit Lions sign 2 new defenders, place Bridgewater on retired list

The Detroit Lions announced a flurry of roster moves ahead of Sunday’s training camp practice. They officially placed Teddy Bridgewater on the reserve/retired list, they’ve signed cornerback Ryan Cooper and linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga, and they’ve waived tight end Nick Muse.

Bridgewater’s move to the retirement list comes minutes after Dan Campbell announced the veteran quarterback is stepping away.

“I’ve known Teddy a long time, and, man, the human being is unbelievable,” Campbell said. “Certainly the player, everything he’s about, the teammate that he is, the way he prepares. Always played the game up here and had a huge heart. He’s going to be missed.”

Campbell said the team intends to sign a veteran backup quarterback, and hopes to do so by Monday.

Cooper was one of three defenders who tried out for the Lions over the weekend. He last played football with the Birmingham Stallions of the UFL, posting 25 tackles, four pass breakups and an interception in nine games. At 5-foot-11, 184 pounds, Cooper has only made one game appearance at the NFL level, playing six special teams snaps for the Baltimore Ravens in 2024. Detroit needed a little cornerback depth while D.J. Reed is sidelined with a minor groin injury and the Lions waived De’Shawn Rucker with an injury designation.

Ogbongbemiga has been in the NFL for five seasons, appearing in 72 games and making three starts since 2021. He went undrafted in the NFL but was a first-round pick in the CFL in 2021. He opted to go the NFL route, making the Los Angeles Chargers 53-man roster as a rookie and appearing in 15 games. He lasted two more years with the Chargers, playing mostly on special teams—932 snaps on teams over three years.

For the last two seasons, he’s been with the Bears. Again, he was a core special teamer for the team, logging 499 snaps before the team cut him earlier this offseason in February.

Detroit has also been a bit shorthanded at linebacker with Malcolm Rodriguez (ankle) and Jimmy Rolder (hamstring) dealing with injuries.

In short:

In:

• CB Ryan Cooper
• LB Amen Ogbongbemiga

Out:

• QB Teddy Bridgewater (retired)
• TE Nick Muse (waived)