Detroit Lions’ Trevor Nowaske ‘back where we belong’ after brief detour to Arizona

The deal was done, or as close to being done in the NFL as it could be.

The Detroit Lions waived Trevor Nowaske two days before their game against the Dallas Cowboys in December and planned to re-sign him to the practice squad the next day.

Nowaske, who grew up in metro Detroit, played at Saginaw Valley State in college and signed with the Lions as an undrafted free agent, was on board with the move. He enjoyed his time with the Lions, liked the team and his linebacker room, so he drove to the practice facility to sign his deal, only to be told there was a wrench in the works.

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A team had claimed Nowaske off waivers — the Lions said they didn’t know who at the time — and Nowaske had to go home, talk to his agent and get on a plane for his next team.

A few hours later, Nowaske was in Arizona. On Sunday, when the Lions visit the Cardinals, Nowaske’s experience in the circle of NFL life will be complete.

“It kind of feels like I just took a little vacation, to be honest,” said Nowaske, who rejoined the Lions as a waiver claim from the Cardinals in August. “I walked back in this place and nothing’s changed. Linebacker room’s (about the same). Everyone’s welcomed me with open arms. Good to be back. Family’s happy to be back here. Not a lot of traveling for them, which is nice. But yeah, honestly I walked in for the first day and was kind of wondering what to expect but literally it feels like I picked up right where I left off, so happy to be back.”

The Lions jumped at the chance to add Nowaske to their linebacker room when he was one of the Cardinals’ final cuts at last month’s roster deadline.

Like the Lions eight months earlier, Arizona tried to sneak Nowaske through on waivers only to find his special-teams ability was in demand around the league.

“We were disappointed when we lost him last year,” Lions general manager Brad Holmes said last month. “We were just in one of those spots where you’re trying to sneak a guy through, and I don’t know if there’s any sneaking anymore in this league, but we just couldn’t. We were trying to get him back on practice squad and people had their eyes on him. And I’m not surprised because he does have a lot of upside with his size, he’s got straight-line speed, he’s tough, he’s physical, he has instincts for special teams.

“I think that’s one of the things that, you look at a special teams player, you look at size, speed, trying to get downfield, being able to break down open field, but he has instincts. He’s got the spatial awareness to understand where the ball’s coming. And so, all those things, it makes him have a bright future at special teams and he’s still going to be growing as a linebacker as well.”

Nowaske has been inactive the first two games this season, but could have a role Sunday if Alex Anzalone is unable to clear concussion protocol before the game.

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He told the Free Press last week his roundabout journey from Detroit to Arizona to Detroit again was a lesson in the business side of the NFL, but one he’s grateful for.

“I’m from here, went to college here, this is my first NFL team, I had never been outside of Michigan living-wise, so it was definitely, for me, that was probably the hardest part,” Nowaske said. “It’s a three-hour time difference in Arizona. Last year, I was living with my parents (when I played for the Lions) and now all of a sudden I’ve got to find an apartment, kind of all these new things.

“But I learned a lot through the process. I learned it’s a business and you got to kind of just go with the flow and roll with the punches and whatever happens, happens. Like I said, we’re back where we belong.”

Nowaske has nothing but good things to say about his time in Arizona.

He didn’t appear in a regular-season game for the team, but had a strong camp, by all accounts, and played for a special teams coordinator, Jeff Rodgers, who has a similar background to Lions special teams coordinator Dave Fipp. Both count the now-retired Larry Mac Duff as one of their coaching influences.

When the Cardinals waived him last month, Nowaske said he never considered the possibility of being reclaimed by the Lions. He planned to re-sign with Arizona, but this time, he was more prepared for his move.

“Best-case scenario it was here,” Nowaske said. “I know they value me here, I know I have good relationships here. I love the culture and what we’re doing here, so hell yeah, I’m pumped that they see a future with me and, yeah, believe in me enough to claim me and put me on the active roster and whatever I can do to help, that’s my next step. So I definitely appreciate it. Like I said, I knew I had good film out there and I know last year I built good relationships in this building so I was very, very happy when I found out I got claimed here.”

Dave Birkett is the author of the new book, “Detroit Lions: An Illustrated Timeline.” Preorder it now from Reedy Press.

Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on X and Instagram at @davebirkett.