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Detroit Lions sign TE Tim Wright, waive Brandon Barnes

By Alex Butler
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkwski (87) gives a hug to fellow tight end Tim Wright (81) after Wright scored on a four-yard touchdown catch. Wright signed with the Detroit Lions on Wednesday. File photo by Matthew Healey/UPI
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkwski (87) gives a hug to fellow tight end Tim Wright (81) after Wright scored on a four-yard touchdown catch. Wright signed with the Detroit Lions on Wednesday. File photo by Matthew Healey/UPI | License Photo

Aug. 9 (UPI) -- Tight end Tim Wright has agreed to return to the Detroit Lions after spending last season on injured reserve.

Detroit announced Wright's signing on Wednesday. The Lions also waived tight end Brandon Barnes.

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Wright entered the NFL in 2013 as an undrafted free agent signing by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was traded during the 2014 offseason to the New England Patriots, in exchange for All-Pro guard Logan Mankins. Wright joined the Lions for the 2015 season. That year he had 77 yards and two touchdowns on nine catches in nine games. Wright suffered a torn ACL during the 2016 offseason and was waived with an injury designation before landing on injured reserve.

For his career, Wright has 907 yards and 13 touchdowns on 89 receptions in 41 career appearances.

Detroit also has Eric Ebron, Darren Fells, Michael Roberts, Cole Wick and Khari Lee at the position. The Lions took Roberts in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Toledo, while Fells left the Arizona Cardinals as a free agent this offseason to join the Lions.

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Ebron has missed practice recently because of a hamstring injury. Last season, Ebron had a career-high 711 yards and 61 receptions, while scoring once, in 13 games. He ranked No. 8 in yards and No. 10 in receptions among NFL tight ends.

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