Damione Lewis
Encyclopedia
St. Louis Rams
Lewis was drafted by the St. Louis RamsSt. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
with the 12th overall pick in the 2001 NFL Draft
2001 NFL Draft
The 2001 NFL Draft took place on April 21–22, 2001 at the theater at Madison Square Garden, in New York City. This was the 66th National Football League draft in league history. The draft was broadcast on ESPN both days and eventually moved to ESPN2. No teams elected to claim any players in the...
. On July 27, 2001, Lewis agreed to a five-year, $7.5 million contract with the Rams. As a rookie in 2001
2001 St. Louis Rams season
The 2001 St. Louis Rams season was the 64th season for the team in the National Football League and seventh season in St. Louis. The Rams set a franchise record for wins in a season , while also going a perfect 8-0 on the road. Quarterback Kurt Warner would go on to win his second league M.V.P....
, Lewis played in nine games with three starts prior to being placed on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
with a broken right foot, keeping him out of the Rams' Super Bowl XXXVI
Super Bowl XXXVI
Super Bowl XXXVI was an American football game played on February 3, 2002 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 2001 regular season. The American Football Conference champion New England Patriots won their first Super...
loss to the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
. The following year he played in 16 games with two starts (one at defensive end and one a defensive tackle). He posted 44 tackles, four sacks, 14 quarterback pressures and one pass defensed.
In 2003
2003 St. Louis Rams season
The 2003 St. Louis Rams season was the team's 66th year with the National Football League and the ninth season in St. Louis. The Rams were coming off a disappointing 7-9 season and former MVP Kurt Warner was demoted to backup quarterback; Marc Bulger earned the starting job after replacing Warner...
, Lewis played in 12 games (starting the first seven of the season). He registered 34 tackles, half a sack, 13 quarterback pressures, one forced fumble and one pass defensed. A sprained ankle against the Pittsburgh Steelers hampered his playing time in the second half of the season.
In 2004
2004 St. Louis Rams season
The 2004 St. Louis Rams season was the team's 67th year with the National Football League and the 10th season in St. Louis.-Schedule:-Playoffs:...
Lewis again earned the starting job at the outset of the season, starting the first 10 contests and playing in all 16. He amassed career highs of 61 tackles and five sacks in addition to recording eight quarterback pressures, one forced fumble and two passes defensed. The next season he played in 16 games with seven starts. However, in 2005, he was in the starting lineup for the final seven contests. He produced 45 tackles, one sack, 23 quarterback pressures, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Lewis played for the Rams for five years, starting 29 of 69 games, and recording 10.5 sacks.
Carolina Panthers
On March 14, 2006, the Carolina PanthersCarolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
signed him to a two-year deal worth about $3.5 million.
In 2006
2006 Carolina Panthers season
-Regular season:-Week 1: vs. Atlanta Falcons:at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North CarolinaThe Panthers opened the regular season at home against the Atlanta Falcons on September 10. They lost, in what many fans and players alike referred to as an embarrassing game, 20-6. Kicker John Kasay...
, Lewis played in 16 games with three starts in his first season in Carolina. He posted 30 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 11 quarterback pressures, one forced fumble and three pass deflections. Lewis contributed to defense that finished seventh in the NFL in total defense and tied for eighth in scoring defense, allowing 19.1 points per game. He also helped unit rank 11th in the league in rushing yards per game, third in third-down efficiency and seventh in sacks per pass play. The 41 sacks by defense was the fourth-highest total in team history. In 2007
2007 Carolina Panthers season
The 2007 Carolina Panthers season was the 13th season for the team in the National Football League. They failed to improve upon their 8–8 record in 2006, finishing 7–9.-Staff:-Roster:-Preseason:-Regular season:-Week 1: at St. Louis Rams:...
, Lewis played 15 games with two starts, which brough his career totals to 100 career games and 34 career starts. For the season Lewis recorded 32 tackles, 3.5 sacks, a pass deflected and a fumble recovery.
After the 2007 season the Panthers re-signed Lewis to a new three-year $14 million extension.
In 2008
2008 Carolina Panthers season
-Preseason:-Regular season:-Postseason:-Week 1: at San Diego Chargers:The Carolina Panthers and San Diego Chargers were locked in a defensive battle in the first quarter. John Kasay made three field goals while Philip Rivers connected with Chris Chambers on a 44-yard pass to score. At halftime the...
, Lewis became a full time starter after Kris Jenkins
Kris Jenkins
Kristopher Rudy-Charles Jenkins is a former American football nose tackle who played for the Carolina Panthers and New York Jets of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Panthers in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
was traded. Lewis started 15 games on the year missing one start due to injury. He had 43 tackles, 3.5 sacks, an 1 forced fumble during the year.
He was released on March 4, 2010.
New England Patriots
Lewis signed with the New England PatriotsNew England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
on April 2, 2010 and was released during final cuts on September 3, 2010.
Houston Texans
Lewis signed with the Houston TexansHouston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on October 25, 2010. He was released on September 2, 2011.