The Lions re-signed Houston as an exclusive rights free agent Monday.
Houston is coming off a mostly lost 2023 campaign, as a fractured ankle suffered Week 2 kept him sidelined until Detroit's loss to the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. He impressed as a rookie back in 2022, racking up 8.0 sacks despite suiting up for just seven games, so it makes sense for the Lions to retain Houston and work to continue his development.
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Lions' James Houston: Season ruined by injury
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Houston recorded one tackle in two games during the 2023 regular season.
Houston was expected to handle a large workload as a pass rusher after racking up 8.0 sacks as a rookie in 2022. However, he suffered a fractured ankle in Week 2 and didn't see the field again until the Lions' season-ending loss to the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. Now set to become an exclusive-rights free agent at the end of the league year, Houston is a strong candidate to return to Detroit in 2024.
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Lions' James Houston: Full go in Wednesday's walkthrough
Rotowire
Houston (ankle) was a full participant in Wednesday's walkthrough practice.
Houston was activated off injured reserve last week, but he was inactive for the Lions' 31-23 win over the Buccaneers in the divisional round. Since he's opening the current week as a full participant, the outside linebacker may have a better chance at being available for the Lions in Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the 49ers.
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Lions' James Houston: Activated off IR
Rotowire
The Lions activated Houston (ankle) off injured reserve Thursday.
Houston has been out since suffering an ankle injury during Detroit's Week 2 loss to the Seahawks but is now set to return for the team's divisional-round matchup versus Tampa Bay. The 25-year-old should contribute on special teams and also provide solid depth behind Derrick Barnes.
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Lions' James Houston: Won't be activated ahead of Week 18
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Houston (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Vikings.
Houston was designated to return from injured reserve Dec. 28, but he'll miss his second straight game since then. The linebacker was able to log a trio of limited practice sessions during Week 18 prep, so it seems that he's making progress toward a return. The second-year linebacker may be able to play in Detroit's wild-card matchup next weekend.
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Lions' James Houston: Won't return to action Saturday
Rotowire
Houston (ankle) has been ruled out for Saturday's game versus the Cowboys, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.
The Lions designated Houston to return from IR on Thursday, and he was able to log a limited session in his return to practice. Given that it was his first practice since he fractured his ankle Week 2 versus Seattle, it's not surprising that Houston isn't yet ready for game action. He'll look to make his return in Detroit's regular-season finale Sunday, Jan. 7 versus Minnesota.
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Lions' James Houston: Practice window opens
Rotowire
Houston (ankle) was designated to return from injured reserve Thursday, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.
The 25-year-old linebacker has missed the Lions' last 13 games with this ankle issue, but it now seems as if he could be nearing a return. Houston tallied 12 total tackles, including 8.0 sacks, in just seven appearances in 2022, and he'd likely serve as a rotational outside linebacker if he's able to return to the field this season.
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Lions' James Houston: Goes to IR
Rotowire
Detroit placed Houston (ankle) on its injured reserve list Tuesday.
Houston is expected to miss at least six weeks as he recovers from a fractured ankle he sustained in Sunday's 37-31 loss versus Seattle. In his absence, Romeo Okwara is likely to see increased work on the edge.
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Lions' James Houston: Signed from practice squad
Rotowire
The Lions signed Houston to the active roster Monday.
Houston joined up with the Lions' practice squad after being waived as part of the team's final roster cuts in late August. The rookie sixth-round pick was then elevated ahead of Thursday's loss to the Bills, and he recorded two sacks while playing four of his 14 snaps on defense in his NFL debut. Houston should now help provide depth at defensive end after Charles Harris (groin) was also placed on injured reserve Monday.
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Lions' James Houston: Likely headed for off-ball role
Rotowire
Houston will likely be an off-ball linebacker in Detroit's new 4-3 base defense, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.
Houston's fantasy stock would be higher if he was a possible heir to the middle linebacker role behind Alex Anzalone or even if he was set for an on-the-ball pass rushing role like the one in which he racked up 16.5 sacks and 24.5 tackles for loss last year at Jackson State. However, it initially doesn't seem like he is headed for snaps at either of those spots to begin his career, and the sixth-round rookie still has to make the team to be of fantasy consideration.
