The Detroit Lions aren’t going to be able to find a player in the final four weeks of the season that can replace the production and energy Kyle Vanden Bosch brings to the game.

But they have found a developmental prospect they can look to for the future. Vanden Bosch will be placed on injured reserve with a bulging disc in his neck. He will require surgery, coach Jim Schwartz announced. Cornerback Alphonso Smith was also placed on IR with a shoulder injury.

Filling one spot will be rookie defensive end Barry Turner. He was claimed off waivers from the Chicago Bears. The undrafted free agent from Nebraska was waived Tuesday so the Bears could make room for offensive lineman Herman Johnson. Turner appeared in two games for the Bears, and they were committed to re-signing him to their practice squad.

The Lions also signed cornerback Prince Miller off the practice squad of the Baltimore Ravens.

Follow me on Twitter: BradBiggs

Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune