Lions re-sign running back Rasheed Williams

When the Detroit Lions cut running back Rasheed Williams a few days after rookie minicamp, they never took his stuff out of his locker.

The plan always was to bring Williams back to Allen Park, once NFL rules permitted.

Williams, who signed with the Lions last month as an undrafted rookie, is re-signing with the team today and should be on the field for Day 5 or Organized Team Activities on Wednesday.

Williams was not eligible to practice with the team until Alfred State finished final exams, and the Lions decided to cut Williams and fill his roster spot with Wayne State's Dez Martin rather than go short-handed at the position.

Joique Bell has not practiced this spring as he recovers from knee and Achilles tendon clean-up surgeries earlier this year, and second-round pick Ameer Abdullah missed two OTAs last week while he attended the NFLPA's Rookie Premiere marketing event in Los Angeles.

With Bell and Abdullah out, Theo Riddick, George Winn and undrafted rookie Zach Zenner got most of the reps at running back.

Williams rushed for 1,676 yards in nine games for Alfred State last year.

The Lions cut receiver Erik Lora to make room for Williams.

Contact Dave Birkett: dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.