Don

Carey

This comes a week after Carey was placed on I.R. with a hamstring injury. Carey has been a helpful backup/special teamer throughout his career, though the 31-year-old is unlikely to resurface until he gets healthy.

Carey took a blind-side hit to the head on kickoff coverage last week. Unlike FS Chris Harris, the special teamer has yet to be cleared for a return to practice.

A special teamer and reserve safety, Carey appeared in five games last season, making 11 tackles. A third-year pro, Overbay has yet to appear in a game.

Carey was on injured reserve after being waived/injured last Monday. A special teamer and reserve safety for the Lions last season, Carey is just two years removed from starting 10 games for the Jaguars. He could draw interest as a mid-season special teams fill-in.

Carey was with the Lions in camp before getting released with an injury settlement. He’s on as secondary depth with Louis Delmas (knee) banged up again, Amari Spievey (concussion) in doubt and Bill Bentley (shoulder) out for the year.

Carey was cut by the Jags before the season after totaling 36 tackles in 15 games last year. He’ll add depth in Detroit with backup safety Erik Coleman out for the season.

Carey was scheduled to become a restricted free agent this offseason. He was signed on the first day of November with the Detroit secondary experiencing a slew of injuries. Carey, 26 in February, then started six games down the stretch and recorded two interceptions with five pass break-ups. The Lions would likely prefer him to be a third safety and special teams player in 2013.

Rashean Mathis and Derek Cox form an up-and-coming starting corner duo, but the depth in the secondary has to be a major concern. Starks is always hurt and Carey is a project out of Norfolk State.

Carey, whom the Jaguars stole off waivers from the Browns last summer, spent his first year on injured reserve. Assuming Mathis regains his starting spot by Week 1, Carey looks to have an inside track on the nickel back job.

The deal was never reported by the media, but the NFLPA database has Carey under Detroit’s control through 2016. He was previously only signed through 2013. Although Carey has been a liability when pressed into action at safety and slot corner, he’s contributed 21 special teams tackles the past two seasons.