Reserve safety and core special teamer Charles Washington has signed his Exclusive Rights Free Agent (ERFA) contract with the Detroit Lions.

#Lions have signed exclusive rights free agent S Charles Washington. pic.twitter.com/aJacWSOqi6 — Detroit Lions (@Lions) April 13, 2019

“Washington returns for his third season with the Lions after posting 13 special teams tackles in 29 games played over the 2017-18 seasons. He originally joined the Lions as an undrafted free agent out of Fresno State following the 2016 NFL Draft. He spent the majority of his rookie season on the team’s practice squad.”

Washington didn’t see a snap on defense in 2018 but he recorded 52.7-percent of special teams snaps, third most on the team, despite missing the final three games with a hamstring injury that eventually landed him on injured reserve.

Retaining core special teamers has always been a priority during general manager Bob Quinn’s tenure and Washington locked down one of the gunner roles all last year. Extending Washington an ERFA was a no brainer decision as he will give the Lions stability at one of the key special teams positions at an affordable cost.