LB Tulloch will be back with Lions

Lions middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch ended the speculation Thursday. He will be back with the Lions in 2015.

Considered a potential salary cap casualty, Tulloch made the announcement on Instagram early Thursday afternoon.

"Let's put all the questions and speculations to rest," he wrote. "I will be back in Detroit for my 10th season this year. I appreciate the Lions organization for believing in me and having the confidence that I'll be back to the player that I've always been. Trust and know I grind hard every day and will hit the field running when it's time to suit up."

Tulloch joined the Lions in 2011 and has been the starting middle linebacker ever since. In 2014, though, he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee when he celebrated sacking Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers in Week 3 and missed the remainder of the season.

Cutting Tulloch would've saved the Lions $3.2 million in cap space in 2015, money they might've needed if they used the franchise tag on defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. After declining the $26.9 million tag on Suh, it became clearer the Lions wanted Tulloch back.

"He was playing lights out," Mayhew said of Tulloch at the combine, saying he played well the first three games despite still adapting to the new defensive scheme.

Tulloch had eight tackles Week 1, 10 tackles and a sack in Week 2 and two tackles and a sack in Week 3 before exiting in the first quarter.

After Tulloch suffered the injury, the Lions shifted strong-side linebacker Tahir Whitehead to the middle. He played well during the season despite playing out of position, but Josh Bynes had to rotate with Whitehead. Tulloch plays every snap when healthy.

"I never really viewed Tahir as a Mike backer," Mayhew said. "I viewed him more as an outside guy."

But Whitehead played well and proved to Mayhew that the team's patience with him was worthwhile. Whitehead played only special teams his first two seasons.

With Tulloch back, the Lions should feel confident in their linebacker corps with DeAndre Levy locked in on the weak side, Tulloch likely secure in the middle and Whitehead and 2014 second-round pick Kyle Van Noy competing on the strong side.

jkatzenstein@detroitnews.com

twitter.com/jkatzenstein