Michael Rothstein, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Detroit Lions re-sign quarterback Kellen Moore

As Kellen Moore packed up his things in January, his future was unclear.

But his uncertainty gained clarity Friday afternoon, as Moore signed a two-year contract to return to Detroit -- the second Lions player to re-sign with the franchise Friday and the fifth Detroit free agent to re-sign with the team prior to free agency.

Terms of Moore's deal were not disclosed.

"Really, my role, there's no real guarantees in anything so every year is kind of the same cycle," Moore said in January. "For whatever restricted (free agency) provides, I would obviously love to be back and we'll see what happens."

After signing with the Lions as an undrafted free agent out of Boise State in 2012, Moore had always been the No. 3 quarterback with the Lions behind starter Matthew Stafford and then reserve quarterbacks Shaun Hill in 2012 and 2013 and Dan Orlovsky last season. He recognized his role, which was primarily to help prepare Stafford for games on Sundays by watching film Stafford couldn't get to and generally acting as another set of eyes and ears for the starter.

Over the past three seasons, Moore has been on the 53-man roster but has yet to be active for an NFL game, let alone play in a game that wasn't in the preseason. Heading into the 2014 season, there was a question of whether he'd even make the club because it was not clear whether or not the franchise would keep a third quarterback behind Stafford and Orlovsky.

Detroit did after Moore showed improvement during preseason games last summer -- ensuring a job for another season. He could be given a chance to compete for the No. 2 quarterback job this summer as he feels like he has made strides the past two seasons. But even if he ends up as the No. 3 again, it's a role he's comfortable with.

"I think obviously you take advantage of a couple years to get better physically," Moore said in January. "Then obviously the most important thing I think in the NFL is the mental aspect, all the little details and things that go into it. All the things that Matthew does every play, just the things that you learn and you grow from those experiences from watching Matthew do it and then when you get your opportunities in preseason and practice you do it as well."

Moore's signing means all three quarterbacks from the 2014 season -- Stafford, Orlovsky and Moore -- will return to the Lions in 2015.

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