ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- The Detroit Lions spent the past few weeks searching for an in-house option to play left tackle in Taylor Decker's absence. Now they have made significant moves from the outside.
The Lions traded for Rams offensive tackle Greg Robinson and signed Cyrus Kouandjio on Thursday morning, bringing in two more players to compete for the team's open left tackle position after Decker had right shoulder surgery last week. Robinson, the No. 2 overall pick in 2014, had been demoted in Los Angeles,
"Good athletes that have ability and they played a bit in the league," coach Jim Caldwell said of the Lions' additions. "We're happy to have them. Both guys give us an opportunity to get better, and that's the key."
A source told ESPN's Adam Schefter that the Lions sent the Rams a 2018 sixth-round selection in return for Robinson.
Robinson, 24, has played in 44 career games with the Rams, starting 40 of them. Los Angeles had tried moving him to guard and right tackle before eventually deciding to trade him to Detroit with one year left on his rookie contract.
"Since we drafted Greg, he has been committed to our organization, his teammates and community outreach," Rams general manager Les Snead said in a statement. "We appreciate his dedication and the effort he's put forth over the past three seasons. We wish him the best as he embarks on this new chapter."
Caldwell said he isn't worried about Robinson's struggles with the Rams and that he believes he fits well in Detroit.
"I'm concerned about what he does for us here and now and this point forward," Caldwell said. "I don't look back much. Those are speculation and stuff. You guys can do that. I guess that makes for interesting reading.
"For us, he's got ability. He's very capable, and we're happy to have him. We're looking forward rather than back."
Robinson was told about the trade Wednesday and flew out of Los Angeles International Airport around 10:30 p.m., arriving in Detroit around 6 a.m. and joining practice -- but not participating -- at 10 a.m.
He said the trade "was a big surprise," but one that will benefit him, saying his time with the Rams "haven't really went the way I would like."
Kouandjio, 23, was signed by the Lions after being released by the Buffalo Bills last month.
It has been a tumultuous offseason for Kouandjio. He injured his hip during a fall at his home in January and then was found half-naked in a field after climbing over an electric fence in April, according to the Buffalo News. During the April incident, Kouandjio reportedly yelled "Shoot me" at the officers. He was not arrested but was hospitalized.
Caldwell declined to go into detail about what Kouandjio told the Lions about the incidents but said that "some of the information, obviously, has been inaccurate." Caldwell didn't say what the inaccurate information was.
Asked about the April incident, Kouandjio said "a few things were blown out of proportion." Further asked how he explains that night, he paused before saying, "We keep that in the past."
Kouandjio deserves a second chance, Caldwell said.
"No one's perfect. I think those things are behind him," Caldwell said. "Like the situation we're talking about with Greg, the same thing with Cyrus. We're looking forward and we're not worried about what happened in the past."
The Lions have been trying to replace Decker, who had surgery on his right shoulder last week. Decker is out indefinitely, though the NFL Network reported that he is expected to miss four to six months, which would cost him at least the start of the 2017 season.
Kouandjio and Robinson will join a left tackle competition with Cornelius Lucas, Tony Hills, Corey Robinson and possibly Joe Dahl. Caldwell wouldn't rule out Dahl staying at tackle but said the team will consider moving him back to guard, where he worked out mostly last year.
On Thursday, Dahl continued to take first-team reps at left tackle as Greg Robinson, Corey Robinson and Kouandjio all sat out practice. Kouandjio said he expects his hip to be ready for training camp.
To make room for Greg Robinson and Kouandjio, the Lions waived long-snapper Jimmy Landes and offensive tackle Arturo Uzdavinis.
Cutting Landes means the Lions will likely go with Don Muhlbach -- their longest-tenured player -- at long-snapper again.
"Muhlbach is our guy. That's where we are at this point," Caldwell said. "He's been great for us. He hasn't been good, hasn't been average. He's been great."