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Detroit Lions sign ex-Central Michigan linebacker Nick Bellore

Bellore played in college at Central Michigan and started 10 games for the San Francisco 49ers last year

Dave Birkett
Detroit Free Press
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Nick Bellore, right, tackles Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016.

The Detroit Lions added more depth for their thin linebacker corps today, signing Nick Bellore to a one-year contract.

Bellore, who went undrafted out of Central Michigan in 2011, has been a solid special-teams player for most of his six-year career and made his first 10 starts last season for the San Francisco 49ers.

Bellore should compete for a roster spot with backup linebacker Thurston Armbrister and fellow special-teams standout Brandon Copeland this fall. Tahir Whitehead, Paul Worrilow and Antwione Williams are penciled in as the Lions' starting linebackers, and the team is expected to add at least one player at the position in this month's draft.

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Bellore, who turns 28 next month, played four seasons with the New York Jets before signing with the 49ers in 2015.

He made a career-high 83 tackles in 14 games last year with one sack and one interception.

Contact Dave Birkett: dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

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