Lions re-sign QB Dan Orlovsky to one-year deal

If a young quarterback wants to be the backup to Matthew Stafford in 2015, he'll have to beat out veteran Dan Orlovsky.

The Lions announced they re-signed Orlovsky to a one-year deal on Monday, locking him in as the favorite to be the No. 2 quarterback next season.

A fifth-round pick in 2005, Orlovsky spent the first four years of his career with the Lions before spending the next five years with the Texans, Colts and Buccaneers. With Shaun Hill going to the Rams last year, though, the Lions targeted Orlovsky as a veteran backup option and signed him to a one-year deal.

During the 2014 season, Orlovsky raved about playing for coach Jim Caldwell, offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and quarterbacks coach Jim Bob Cooter. He also played under Caldwell in Indianapolis in 2011, his second-most extensive playing time behind his work with the winless Lions in 2008.

What this means for Kellen Moore is unclear. Lions general manager Martin Mayhew said at the combine a couple weeks ago the team would like to have Moore back, but has no intentions of tendering him as a restricted free agent.

Whether it's Moore or a rookie, Orlovsky will start in the pole position for the backup job behind Stafford.

jkatzenstein@detroitnews.com

twitter.com/jkatzenstein