Detroit Lions add LB help as Alex Anzalone awaits new contract, sign Zach Cunningham

With Organized Team Activities set to begin this week, the Detroit Lions are adding some veteran insurance at linebacker.

The Lions signed journeyman free agent Zach Cunningham, NFL Network reported.

Cunningham played for four teams in his first eight NFL seasons and appeared in seven games with the Denver Broncos last year, mostly on special teams. He was a full-time starter with the Houston Texans early in his career and also played for the Tennessee Titans and Philadelphia Eagles.

The Lions are shorthanded at linebacker this spring with Alex Anzalone skipping voluntary workouts in hopes of landing a new contract and Malcolm Rodriguez recovering from a torn ACL.

Anzalone, Jack Campbell and Derrick Barnes are penciled into starting spots this fall, with Rodriguez and Grant Stuard as the top backups.

Cunningham, 30, could compete for a backup job with Zeke Turner, Anthony Pittman and Trevor Nowaske.

The Lions have three OTA practices this week and three in June, then break for the summer. They open the preseason in the Hall of Fame game July 31 and report for training camp in mid-July.

Dave Birkett is the author of the book, "Detroit Lions: An Illustrated Timeline." Order your copy here. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions add LB depth, sign Zach Cunningham