Lions release DE Ayers day after signing him

The Detroit Lions released defensive end Robert Ayers on Tuesday, a day after signing him to a one-year contract.

The veteran practiced with the team Monday after the Lions signed him in hopes of boosting a weak pass rush that has recorded just one sack through three preseason games. According to the Detroit Free Press, Ayers declined post-practice interview requests but put two posts on Instagram that made it seem as if he were looking forward to playing another season.

Tuesday morning, coach Matt Patricia spoke positively of him.

"Another guy that obviously has some good experience that we could bring in," Patricia told reporters before practice. "(He) has been pretty productive in the NFL in a couple of different places and has some versatility to him. So, it'll be a good opportunity for us to just take a look and see how that fits us."

Ayers didn't take part in practice Tuesday. And in the afternoon, the team announced his surprising release without explanation.

Ayers, who turns 33 on Sept. 6, is a nine-year NFL veteran.

Ayers has 35 sacks and nine forced fumbles in 120 career NFL games (59 starts).

He was the 18th overall pick of the 2009 draft by the Denver Broncos and played five seasons with the team before playing two seasons apiece with the New York Giants (2014-15) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2016-17). Ayers had 2.0 sacks and two forced fumbles last season for the Buccaneers.

Ayers had a career-best 9.5 sacks for the Giants in 2015.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)