Kyle Peko has made his way around this site’s transaction posts over the years, bouncing to a few teams and on and off practice squads. But the veteran defensive tackle has continued to generate interest despite working mostly as a backup.

A stint with the Titans last year brought new territory — regular starter run — for the eight-year veteran, and it looks like that stretch will lead to another gig. The Lions signed Peko on Tuesday, bringing him in and greenlighting a reunion with C.J. Moore.

Detroit will be Peko’s sixth stop since coming into the NFL as a UDFA in 2016. The ex-Broncos signee had made a combined three starts from 2016-22. Last season, the Titans used him as a 10-game starter. Peko, whose other three career starts came for the 2021 Titans, rejoined the Tennessee D-line last year. He made 22 tackles (two for loss) and batted down a pass.

Pro Football Focus did not view Peko, 30, as a productive defender; the advanced metrics site graded the journeyman as a bottom-10 performer among D-tackle regulars. But the Lions hired former Mike Vrabel assistant Terrell Williams as their D-line coach/defensive run-game coordinator. That familiarity will certainly help produce another opportunity for Peko, who played for Williams — previously the Titans’ D-line coach — during both his Tennessee stints.

A cousin of longtime NFL DT Domata Peko, Kyle has played for the Broncos, Bills, Colts, Raiders and Titans. Last season also marked the Oregon State alum’s career-high mark for games played (13). He joins a Lions interior D-line corps featuring Alim McNeill, John Cominsky, free agent signing D.J. Reader, 14-year veteran Tyson Alualu, former Day 2 picks Levi Onwuzurike and Brodric Martin, along with sixth-round rookie Mekhi Wingo.

Calvin Johnson Gets Honest On Why He Retired From NFL

For nine seasons, Calvin Johnson, nicknamed “Megatron,” delighted NFL fans as one of the league’s truly elite wide receivers.

He led the league in receiving yards twice, made six Pro Bowls and three All-Pro First Teams, and he helped make the long-suffering Detroit Lions at least somewhat competitive.

But the Lions were never able to become contenders while Johnson was there, and he revealed that it was a major reason why he retired early, per Pivot Podcast.

"100% losing didn't help…"

Calvin Johnson's choice to retire may have shocked the NFL world, but it was not a decision @Megatron_ron took lightly. He shares what factors led to ultimately leaving after 9 seasons, & spoiler, being on a playoff team may have changed his mind… pic.twitter.com/oTqBgB0CC0

— Pivot Podcast (@thepivot) May 7, 2024

Johnson is widely considered one of the very best wide receivers in football history, and at 6-foot-5 and nearly 240 pounds, he was nearly impossible for opposing defensive backs to cover.

In 2012, he established an NFL record with 1,964 receiving yards, a record that hasn’t been broken yet, even as the game has become more pass-friendly since.

But despite getting to play with a quality quarterback in Matthew Stafford, Johnson wasn’t able to make the Lions into contenders.

In his nine seasons in the league, all of which were spent in Detroit, the team had a winning record just twice, and it made the playoffs just three times, losing in the Wild Card round each time.

Johnson said that playing on a mediocre team “zapped all the fun out of the game” for him and that he wasn’t willing to go through the requisite preparation as a result.

This past season, the Lions finished first in the NFC North and won their first playoff game since the 1991 season — in fact, they made it all the way to the NFC Championship Game.

There’s no doubt Johnson would’ve loved playing on a team like that with a real shot at winning a Super Bowl championship.