The Detroit Lions added another back-up plan in case starting safety Louis Delmas doesn't come back from ongoing knee problems.
The club announced Monday the signing of former Pro Bowl safety Chris Hope, who made four starts and played in a total of 18 games, including two playoff games, last season with Atlanta.
Hope, 32, played for Pittsburgh from 2002-05 and Tennessee from 2006-11 before joining the Falcons last season.
He started 113 of the 163 games that he's played in during his 11-year NFL career and was selected to the 2008 Pro Bowl.
Hope was a third-round draft pick by Pittsburgh in 2002 after playing in college at Florida State.
He started every game during the Steelers' Super Bowl run in the 2005 season.
Delmas, who has been hampered by injuries to both knees the last couple seasons, was unable to participate in the Lions' recent off-season practices. The team's training camp begins in late July.
To make room for Hope on the roster, the Lions released receiver Brian Robiskie.
