Lions tell Orlovsky that Rudock will be backup QB

The Detroit Lions are going in another direction at quarterback.

Matthew Stafford remains the starter, but Jake Rudock will take the reins from Dan Orlovsky as the team's backup in 2017.

"(The) Lions let me know they're going in a different direction with Jake Rudock as backup to Matthew," Orlovsky told Ross Tucker on SiriusXM NFL Radio on Thursday morning.

The Lions drafted Rudock out of the University of Michigan in the sixth round of last year's draft. He didn't see any regular-season action, but he went 30-for-51 for 333 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception in the preseason.

Orlovsky, a veteran of 11 seasons, has spent the past three years in Detroit. He appeared in just two games in that time, throwing for one touchdown and one pick in limited action.