The Detroit Lions are bringing back a part of their history they would probably like to forget.
Dan Orlovsky, who started seven games at quarterback during the team's 0-16 season in 2008, is returning to Detroit on a one-year contract.
Orlovsky, who was drafted in 2005 by the Lions in the fifth round out of Connecticut, played in 10 games during the 2008 season, completing 143 of 255 passes for 1,616 yards with eight touchdowns and eight interceptions. He then went to Houston for two seasons before landing in Indianapolis in 2011.
There, he played under new Lions coach Jim Caldwell, but things didn't go as planned. Peyton Manning was injured and Orlovsky played in eight games in his absence, completing 122 of 193 passes for 1,201 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions.
That Colts team went 2-14 and Caldwell was fired after the season.
Orlovsky, 30, spent the past two seasons in Tampa Bay.
Perhaps his most recognizable play with the Lions came when he ran 2 yards out of the end zone while trying to throw a pass. Minnesota's Jared Allen was chasing him and Orlovsky ran out of the end zone and didn't appear to realize it until the referees blew their whistles.
Orlovsky will compete with Kellen Moore to back up starter Matthew Stafford.