Detroit Lions waive Alphonso Smith, claim Pat Lee

The Detroit Lions waived cornerback Alphonso Smith to free up a roster spot on Monday for the waiver claim of Pat Lee from the Oakland Raiders, according to Adam Caplan of NFL.com. Smith was signed last month to give the team some depth as Detroit's secondary battled injuries, but now it has Lee to alleviate those issues.

Lee, 28, was waived recently by the Raiders after appearing in eight games this season, recording 30 tackles, four defended passes, one forced fumble and one interception. He had spent the previous four seasons with the Green Bay Packers after they made him their second-round pick in 2008.

In addition to the acquisition of Lee, the Lions should have additional help for their secondary when veteran cornerback Drayton Florence is activated from the injured reserve. The 31-year-old hasn't played since early September after breaking his forearm.

With the Lions taking on the Packers this week, Lee should quickly become part of the mix in Detroit. Considering his knowledge of the Packers from his time playing in Green Bay, don't be surprised if some coaches try to pick his brain a bit in the coming days.