The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed veteran free agent linebacker Teddy Lehman to a contract. Lehman was one of eight players that participated in the club's May 1-3 mini-camp on a tryout basis. Defensive end Bryan Smith was waived-injured after suffering a knee injury during mini-camp and he is now on injured reserve.
Lehman, 6-1, 249, has played in 45 games with 16 starts since entering the NFL as a second-round draft pick of the Detroit Lions in 2004. He has also spent time with Tampa Bay and Buffalo. He started all 16 games as a rookie for the Lions and finished with 120 tackles. He was slowed by injuries the next two seasons, seeing action in only nine games.
Lehman appeared in all 16 games in 2007 and finished with 22 tackles and 10 special teams tackles. He joined the Bills midway through the 2008 season and played in four games on special teams.
A native of Tulsa, Okla., Lehman started 38 of 51 games at Oklahoma and earned numerous accolades for his play. He was a consensus All-America first-team selection as a senior and was the winner of the Dick Butkus Award (nation's top linebacker) and Bednarik Award (nation's top defensive player). He attended Fort Gibson High School where he was a standout fullback and linebacker.
