Lions Sign CB Mark Gilbert Off Steelers Practice Squad

Detroit Lions add depth to the secondary, with defensive back from Pittsburgh Steelers' practice squad.

John Maakaron | Oct 12, 2021

The Detroit Lions will fill one of their open roster positions by adding depth along the secondary.

Quintez Cephus is headed to the injured reserve list soon, and the team could use additional help for a secondary that is fielding young and unproven talent.

Cornerback Mark Gilbert will sign with the Lions, and join their 53-man roster from the Pittsburgh Steelers' practice squad, according to LAA Sports.

Gilbert went undrafted out of Duke, and joined the Steelers this past summer.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound defensive back has spent the early portion of his career on the practice squad.

During his sophomore season in 2017, Gilbert recorded 35 tackles, with three being for loss, to go along with six interceptions and 15 passes defensed.

Unfortunately, Gilbert played only two games his junior year, after suffering a hip injury that cost him the remainder of the 2018 season and all of 2019.

Gilbert opted out of the 2020 season, after another foot injury, in order to prepare for the NFL Draft.

In his first preseason, the 24-year-old recorded five overall tackles and two pass breakups.

“First of all, that was the best defensive performance we’ve had to date, and particularly in the secondary, I thought we did a really good job," Lions head coach Dan Campbell said in his opening statement on Monday. "Certainly, the one that hurts us is the drive at the end of the game, that you’ve got to seal the deal on that. When your defense is playing as good as they were, they can’t allow that one, because that was the type of game that was going to. But, we’ll learn from it."

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Published Oct 12, 2021

JOHN MAAKARON

John Maakaron has covered Detroit Sports since 2013. Brings a vast array of experience covering the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, Michigan Wolverines, Michigan State Spartans, Detroit Mercy Titans, and Oakland University Golden Grizzlies. John brings a wealth of sports broadcast experience. In 2013, John had the vision to establish the Detroit Sports Podcast Network. Has recorded over 3000 podcasts analyzing Detroit Sports. In 2019, Sports Illustrated Media Group, a historical sports media outlet, partnered with Detroit Sports Podcast to provide daily Lions content for their growing and expanding digital media outlet. Our Lions content can also be read in the newspaper at The Oakland Passionate about Detroit Sports and it is reflected in his coverage of the local teams!