Lions reportedly agree to terms with journeyman QB after Pittsburgh stint

After just one season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, veteran quarterback Kyle Allen is heading to Detroit.

Sources confirmed to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo that Allen has agreed to terms with the Detroit Lions. This marks Allen’s sixth team in his seven-year career.

Before joining the Steelers, Allen had stints with the Washington Football Team, Houston Texans, Buffalo Bills and Carolina Panthers, the team he originally signed with as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Houston in 2018.

Once the deal becomes official, Allen will join a Lions quarterback room that includes starter Jared Goff, Hendon Hooker and Jake Fromm — who signed a reserve/future contract in January.

Allen, who turned 29 last Saturday, appeared in one game for the Steelers last season, completing one pass for 19 yards.

His most significant NFL action came in 2019—his second year in the league — while playing under then-Panthers head coach Ron Rivera. Rivera was dismissed after a 5-7 start, with Perry Fewell taking over as interim coach.

Allen started 12 of 13 games that season, posting a 5-7 record. He threw for 3,322 yards, 17 touchdowns and 16 interceptions while completing 62% of his passes with a passer rating of 80.0.

While it remains unclear where Allen will fit among Goff’s backups, he becomes the latest addition to Detroit’s quarterback group following the departure of Teddy Bridgewater, who has seemingly transitioned into coaching high school football after spending last season with the Lions.

Allen’s signing also raises questions about Hooker’s future in Detroit. The Lions selected Hooker in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft — a relatively high pick for a quarterback who has yet to take meaningful snaps as a backup.