Word leaked out late Saturday night that the Lions had re-signed two key players. Kind of fitting that neither one of them is a spotlight grabber.

Left tackle Jeff Backus will return for his 12th season after signing a two-year deal worth $10 million according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

After losing Drew Stanton, who signed with the New York Jets on Friday, the Lions needed Shaun Hill back and they got him. The veteran quarterback also signed a two-year contract .

Neither signing is a surprise. Both are important moves. Backus is 34 and coming off offseason surgery after tearing a pectoral muscle in the playoff game. But he’s started 176 straight games, he’s tough and there’s no one on the current roster who could step into his big shoes.

Backus seems like a quiet guy — at least in comparison to center Dominic Raiola — but he’s definitely a leader on the offense.

Hill only saw garbage time in two games last season since Matthew Stafford was healthy. But the season before he started 10 games and had 16 touchdowns to just 12 interceptions. Actually he would have started three more but he broke him forearm and was forced to miss time.

Hill stepped right into the offense in part because he and offensive coordinator Scott Linehan worked together at Minnesota. He’s a no-drama guy who can step in and win games.

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