Pride of Detroit
With Jalen Reeves-Maybin gone and Malcolm Rodriguez sidelined, Stuard could play a key role on both special teams and defense for the Lions in 2025.
Our 2025 Detroit Lions roster preview series rolls along as we bide our time before the pads come on and training camp starts. Today, we’re taking a look at one of the newcomers this offseason, an under-the-radar addition in linebacker Grant Stuard.
Previous previews: RB Sione Vaki, RB Jahmyr Gibbs, WR Jameson Williams, TE Sam LaPorta, EDGE Aidan Hutchinson, DT Brodric Martin, K Jake Bates
Grant Stuard arrived in Indianapolis via trade in late August of 2022. The Colts, looking for someone with special teams experience, brought in Stuard and were rewarded with high-level play in that phase of the game. A core-four special teams player (kickoff, kick return, punt, and punt return), Stuard added field goal block snaps to his resume in his second season with Indy, playing 349 total special teams snaps in 2023—the 26th-most special teams snaps by a player that year. He didn’t log any defensive snaps in 2022, but along with his extensive contributions on special teams in 2023, Stuard saw 32 snaps of action on defense at linebacker across a smattering of games.
Heading into 2024, the Colts knew Stuard could be counted on to be a core special teamer, and his limited work on defense laid the groundwork for him to be available in a pinch should injuries happen at linebacker.
Note: Stats are regular season only unless otherwise stated
17 games (5 starts)
Stats: 40 tackles, 2 TFLs
PFF grade: 69.4 (28th out of 93 LBs with minimum 229 snaps)
PFF run defense grade: 70.1 (t-41st out of 93)
PFF coverage grade: 65.3 (23rd out of 93)
PFF tackling grade: 64.0 (40th out of 93)
PFF pass rush grade: 54.6 (72nd out of 93)
Stuard was once again the Colts’ ace on special teams in 2024, playing 342 snaps across his various roles (t-37th in snaps among all NFL special teams players). However, things would take a turn for Stuard in his fourth season, as injuries and ineffective linebacker play from the Colts' starters led to him earning more playing time on defense (229 snaps) than ever before in his career.
Stuard would earn the first start of his career on defense in a Week 7 tilt with the Miami Dolphins. The hard-nosed special teamer made the most of his milestone moment, tallying 19 total tackles—including 11 solo and one for loss—while playing 64 defensive snaps (92.8%) in a 16-10 win over the Dolphins.
Over the next eight weeks, he started four more games and averaged 19.8% of defensive snaps down the stretch—all while continuing to contribute heavily on special teams, where he played an average of 72.9% of the snaps.
Even though the Lions finished the season with a 15-2 record, their season was ultimately defined by injuries. The...
