(Until training camp starts at the end of July, Lions Lowdown will be posted five times a week using the list format.)

When Cliff Avril headed to Seattle, the Lions signed free agent defensive end Jason Jones to replace him. Here are three reasons it was a good addition:

1. Jones is a young veteran. He has four years of NFL experience and yet is just 26. The Southfield native will start in Avril’s former position at left defensive end. With a lot of talk about free agents Reggie Bush and Glover Quin not much has been said about Jones. “He might be forgotten for you guys, but he’s certainly not for us or our offense who had to start to go against him,’’ coach Jim Schwartz said. “He’s a young player, but he’s also a veteran player. He’s played in a couple different schemes. He’s going to be a great addition for us.’’

2. He’s 6-foot-5, two inches taller than Avril. The Lions were looking to add length to the defensive end position. Ezekiel “Ziggy” Ansah is also 6-foot-5.

3. There’s not much the Lions don’t know about Jones who was drafted in 2009 by the Tennessee Titans where Schwartz was defensive coordinator and Jim Washburn (now with the Lions also) was a defensive line coach. 

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