The Detroit Lions have filled their backup quarterback vacancy by signing veteran Dan Orlovsky.

Yes, that Dan Orlovsky.

The Lions originally selected the quarterback out of Connecticut in the fifth round of the 2005 draft. He spent four years here, and started seven games, all of which came during the club's winless 2008 season.

He went on to play for Houston (2009-10), Indianapolis (2011) and Tampa Bay (2012-13). He started five games for the Colts -- then coached by Jim Caldwell -- but has attempted just seven passes since, and none in the past two years.

Orlovsky is best remembered for a moment he surely would like to forget. While playing for the Lions in 2008, he drew a safety for running deep out of the back of the end zone during a game against Minnesota. Detroit lost 12-10.

That play is considered one of the worst in recent history and has become something of a symbol for the Lions' 2008 season, which remains the only 0-16 season in league history.

Orlovsky replaces Shaun Hill as the backup to starting quarterback Matthew Stafford. His numbers aren't as good as Hill's -- he's a career 58.5-percent passer with 14 touchdowns, 12 picks and a 2-10 record as a starter -- but he will be much cheaper.

Orlovsky should draw a contract worth about the veteran minimum of $855,000. Hill signed a one-year deal with the St. Louis Rams worth $1.75 million.

The Lions said they were open to drafting a No. 2, and even floated the idea of selecting a QB to flip for future draft picks. But in the end, they went the safe route in this critical 2014 season.

"We just need a player who can be our backup quarterback -- he can go in and function well for us and help us win a game," general manager Martin Mayhew said last week. "It could be a young guy -- a draft choice -- or a veteran guy. But we want to find the right guy for that role."

The Lions also have No. 3 QB Kellen Moore under contract for next season, though he's not expected to seriously challenge Orlovsky for the backup duties.

It's possible Detroit still drafts a quarterback, though such a move almost certainly would come in the late rounds.