ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Matt Asiata came to Michigan, left, and wasn't sure if he would return. When he worked out with the Detroit Lions last month during rookie minicamp, the veteran thought things went well. He felt good about what he did.

Then, he didn't get a positive call. Instead, he was told the Lions wouldn't sign him to a contract. He would remain a free agent, but he understood. This is how it goes sometimes as a free agent in the NFL, especially one trying to latch on after the draft.

"I know how the business is," Asiata said. "I just have to go back and stay on my grind and hope for the best."

The best came last weekend, when the Lions called Asiata and decided after all to sign the running back to a one-year deal -- bringing him back to a place where he felt comfortable during one short weekend in mid-May. He liked what he saw then, felt that Jim Caldwell was "a team coach and fair coach." Asiata wanted to play for someone like that.

The Lions liked what he could do, as well. As the team transitions away from a traditional fullback after releasing Michael Burton, Asiata gives them a different type of player. He is not expected to play a role similar to Burton's -- although at one point Wednesday he did line up in a special-teams spot where Burton usually played. Asiata is a versatile back who can push Zach Zenner and Dwayne Washington, and maybe take one of their jobs.

The Lions did not sign Asiata to replace Ameer Abdullah -- Caldwell said Wednesday that Abdullah is "certainly" the starter -- and Asiata has a different game than the elusive Theo Riddick. But Asiata is on the same level as Zenner and Washington, with similar skill sets.

"We'll see how he develops," Caldwell said. "Obviously, he's a running back and there are always needs for guys to come in and be good competition at the spot, but that's the spot that he plays. He's not a fullback."

Asiata, 29, has 361 career carries for 1,259 yards and 18 touchdowns. He's also caught 101 passes for 722 yards and a touchdown. He's been used in the past in short-yardage situations, out of the backfield and as a pass protector. He can play special teams.

He knows he's more of a downhill runner, but that's what the Lions need because their top two backs are more of the elusive variety. All of this is familiar, though.

The toughest thing right now is having to learn a new offense with a new team for the first time in his career after spending his first five seasons in Minnesota.

"The only weird thing is trying to get this playbook going," Asiata said. "It's another team. It's Spanish to me right now, but I'll get it going."

When he does, the Lions will know what they might have in Asiata, the latest player Detroit is bringing in to try to help its run game.