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The Seahawks brought in QB Adrian Martinez for a workout.
A former Detroit Lions quarterback will continue his NFL journey with a new team just one day after being released.
Adrian Martinez, who joined the Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and had some impressive moments in training camp, signed with the New York Jets’ practice squad after being released by the San Francisco 49ers. The mobile and versatile quarterback saw his first NFL action this year, and now could see a new opportunity with a team with little to play for the rest of the way.
Adrian Martinez Back to New York
Martinez had an uphill battle during his time in Detroit, joining a crowded quarterback room that inlcuded fellow rookie Hendon Hooker — at that time a development project who was still recovering from a torn ACL.
While Martinez did not make the final roster in Detroit, he went on to a successful season in the UFL the following year. Martinez signed with the Birmingham Stallions, throwing for 1,750 yards with 15 touchdowns and three interceptions while rushing for 530 yards and three touchdowns. He was named to the All-UFL team and later earned the UFL Championship MVP while leading the Stallions to a title.
Martinez has not has as much luck in the NFL, spending time with the Jets and signing with the San Francisco 49ers this season after an injury to Brock Purdy. He has not seen any real action outside of a kneel down, but returns to a Jets team that has no playoff hopes and could give him a look.
The Lions ultimately moved on from Hooker as well, releasing him prior to the start of this season. Hooker landed with the Carolina Panthers but was released in November and has not found a new NFL team since then.
Jared Goff Faces Big Weekend
The Lions have had little need for their backup quarterbacks, with the sturdy Jared Goff holding down the No. 1 spot and leading the team to consecutive NFC North titles. The Lions find themselves in a fight to make the playoffs this season, facing a big test against Goff’s former team.
The Lions face the NFC-leading Los Angeles Rams on Sunday in a game with big playoff implications. Goff said he’s ready to move beyond the narrative of the team that dumped him in a blockbuster 2021 trade that sent Matthew Stafford to Los Angeles.
“It feels like a long time ago and, I think we kind of talked about it earlier in the year of how it’s kind of my career now [I’ve] spent more time here. It certainly feels like a long time ago,” Goff told reporters on Wednesday.
“No, not so much anymore,” he added. “And really, we played them in that playoff game, and it was such a big deal and the next year we played them again, and that felt like even less, and so now it’s even further removed.”
The Lions have already met the Rams before, knocking them out of the playoffs in 2023 as the Lions went on a run to the NFC Championship game.
Nathan Dougherty is a sports reporter covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins. Previously he wrote for the Rochester Business Journal and served as the assistant editor of athletic trade magazines Coaching Management, Athletic Management and Training & Conditioning. He is based out of Rochester, New York, and loves everything football. More about Nathan Dougherty
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