Lions sign RB Benny Snell after Justin Jackson retires

The Detroit Lions signed running back Benny Snell on Thursday, giving them depth at the position after the unexpected retirement of Justin Jackson.

The team also announced the official signing of quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.

Snell, 25, spent his first four NFL seasons with the Steelers, who selected him in the fourth round of the 2019 draft. He ran for 982 yards and scored seven touchdowns with Pittsburgh, but his opportunities dwindled over the past two seasons.

In the 2021 and '22 seasons, he carried the ball a combined 56 times for 188 yards in 34 games.

Jackson, 27, was expected to play a key role on special teams, and he also was competing for duties at No. 3 running back behind David Montgomery and first-round rookie Jahmyr Gibbs.

The Los Angeles Chargers selected Jackson in the seventh round of the 2018 draft, and he spent his first four seasons with the team before signing with Detroit in 2022. Last season, he gained 271 yards from scrimmage and scored two touchdowns. He added 613 yards on 23 kickoff returns and played on 60 percent of special teams snaps.

In a corresponding move, the Lions released guard Logan Stenberg, their fourth-round draft pick in 2020. The 26-year-old appeared in 25 games (four starts) over three seasons.