rockaction
Footballguy
It looks like Detroit is doing what my dynasty team is currently doing. If you think you have a weak spot or two just stack those positions with a ****load of mediocrities and longshots until you're forced to make a decision.
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2025 Detroit Lions: 0-0 X-Season in the books. Time for final cuts. (141 Viewers)
- Thread starter Da Guru
- Start date
Ilov80s
Footballguy
I would imagine and his family are pretty established and settled in the community here and he definitely prefer to stay here as long as possible and might even prioritize that over a few extra dollars somewhere else. Not that he's a hot commodity but teams are always looking for OL.
think 2024 was the first time in his career he made a 53 man out of TC
Dude has signed like 25 contracts
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Skip got $75K GTD when he signed his 1-year deal
As a vested veteran, his entire base (~1.125M) becomes GTD if he's on the 53-man Week 1
As a vested veteran, his entire base (~1.125M) becomes GTD if he's on the 53-man Week 1
Ilov80s
Footballguy
Been there before that's for sure.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
I would imagine and his family are pretty established and settled in the community here and he definitely prefer to stay here as long as possible and might even prioritize that over a few extra dollars somewhere else. Not that he's a hot commodity but teams are always looking for OL.
think 2024 was the first time in his career he made a 53 man out of TC
Dude has signed like 25 contracts
yeah they just had their 3rd kid - 2 sons under 5 and a daughter born in December (same day he scored his first NFL TD)
I'm sure whatever they have planned was clearly communicated, the whole town riots if they don't take care of Skipper lol
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Holmes & Campbell constantly refer to the roster as being 69 players, they usually end up needing everyone on the practice squad at some point
Campbell spoke a lot about the process this morning - pretty somber day
As is tradition, Brad Holmes will have a presser toward the end of the week after the dust settles.
Campbell spoke a lot about the process this morning - pretty somber day
Lions' Campbell talks evaluation process, practice squad's importance, and hunting for outside talent ahead of roster cuts
Allen Park — For the next day or so, the optimism of the upcoming season is muted by each NFL team having to inform nearly 30 players they didn’t make the cut.
It’s an unfortunate aspect of being a coach or general manager in the league. However, it’s part of the job, and Lions coach Dan Campbell believes being direct and honest is the best way to traverse the process.
“I appreciate all those guys and all the hard work they put into it,” Campbell said. “…It's something that has to be done, and you want to do it as respectfully as you can. You don't want to lie to the player. You just tell them straight up, and it's hard. But it's the right way to do it. We do that.”
Campbell emphasized that as difficult as these days can be for him with having to break so much bad news, he understands it’s worse for the individual players having to hear it. He tries to use those conversations to provide some motivation.
“What I tell them is, 'Use this as fuel and move on to the next step of this, whether it's another team or it's another shot at it. Whatever it is, man, attack the next day, and don't let it shake your confidence,’” Campbell said.
The silver lining is the Lions will be able to bring several of those cuts back into the fold a day later, once they clear waivers and the team establishes its 16-man practice squad. The way the Lions have operated under Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes, there’s stability with that unit, and many of those players end up contributing on the main roster at some point during the season.
“We love our practice squad,” Campbell said. “That's another one of those things that we've done a really good job of here, found guys that fit us and that we can count on, really over the last two or three years. You know, those guys are a big part of what we do. So, yeah, we feel pretty good. There will be a number of those guys that we'd be excited to have back that we trust.”
Campbell did acknowledge the Lions won’t necessarily use all 16 practice squad spots on members of their offseason roster. The personnel department is scouring other teams’ potential cuts for talent who can serve as upgrades. That’s how the Lions landed wide receiver Tim Patrick a year ago, who ended up being a significant contributor in 2024.
Just know, the Lions won’t lower their standards, even with that group. Campbell said it will always be important that the team adds players they are passionate about.
“We'll do our legwork,” Campbell said. “We have enough people who have an idea of who that person was. What was their background in college coming out? That's always going to be big. Chances are, if it's somebody we weren't really fired up about coming out, because of character, we're probably not going to look at them if they're available now.
“Usually, that's already been checked off, you'll do a little legwork, and then the rest is up to the tape,” Campbell continued. “What does the tape look like? Do we feel like that's something that fits our system? Do we feel like we can help them grow and get better? Are we excited about the player? That's a lot of it, too. It's hard for Brad and I to bring in guys we're warm about. You want to feel like you're hot over them because there's somewhere to go or they have something about them that you feel like you can develop.”
Detroit and the rest of the league's teams are required to trim their rosters to 53 by 4 p.m. Tuesday. Campbell said he expects the Lions to have most of the conversations with players by the end of the day Monday.
The process is the culmination of months of work, 18 training camp practices, four preseason games, and a number of behind-the-scenes meetings and sessions in the weight room that media and fans don’t see. It all matters.
“You're going to take the totality of it,” Campbell said. “I know for me, that's big. I want to know, from start to finish, what did it look like and was there constant improvement? Do you feel and see development through that time?”
Campbell said one thing that does concern him in the evaluation process is when the practice tape is good and a player is unable to transfer that success to the exhibition games. He also acknowledged that he, as a coach, can’t become enamored by a small sample size, such as a strong performance in a single preseason game.
The coach also mentioned the eventual returns of several key contributors, notably Alim McNeill and Malcolm Rodriguez, as being considerations during cuts. But Campbell also said the team has to think big picture based on historical trends.
“You've got to be careful and worry about today, worry about what's right in front of us a little bit,” Campbell said. “The odds, unfortunately, it will shake out where we won't have to make that decision. I hope not, but that's how it's been here going on five years.”
It’s an unfortunate aspect of being a coach or general manager in the league. However, it’s part of the job, and Lions coach Dan Campbell believes being direct and honest is the best way to traverse the process.
“I appreciate all those guys and all the hard work they put into it,” Campbell said. “…It's something that has to be done, and you want to do it as respectfully as you can. You don't want to lie to the player. You just tell them straight up, and it's hard. But it's the right way to do it. We do that.”
Campbell emphasized that as difficult as these days can be for him with having to break so much bad news, he understands it’s worse for the individual players having to hear it. He tries to use those conversations to provide some motivation.
“What I tell them is, 'Use this as fuel and move on to the next step of this, whether it's another team or it's another shot at it. Whatever it is, man, attack the next day, and don't let it shake your confidence,’” Campbell said.
The silver lining is the Lions will be able to bring several of those cuts back into the fold a day later, once they clear waivers and the team establishes its 16-man practice squad. The way the Lions have operated under Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes, there’s stability with that unit, and many of those players end up contributing on the main roster at some point during the season.
“We love our practice squad,” Campbell said. “That's another one of those things that we've done a really good job of here, found guys that fit us and that we can count on, really over the last two or three years. You know, those guys are a big part of what we do. So, yeah, we feel pretty good. There will be a number of those guys that we'd be excited to have back that we trust.”
Campbell did acknowledge the Lions won’t necessarily use all 16 practice squad spots on members of their offseason roster. The personnel department is scouring other teams’ potential cuts for talent who can serve as upgrades. That’s how the Lions landed wide receiver Tim Patrick a year ago, who ended up being a significant contributor in 2024.
Just know, the Lions won’t lower their standards, even with that group. Campbell said it will always be important that the team adds players they are passionate about.
“We'll do our legwork,” Campbell said. “We have enough people who have an idea of who that person was. What was their background in college coming out? That's always going to be big. Chances are, if it's somebody we weren't really fired up about coming out, because of character, we're probably not going to look at them if they're available now.
“Usually, that's already been checked off, you'll do a little legwork, and then the rest is up to the tape,” Campbell continued. “What does the tape look like? Do we feel like that's something that fits our system? Do we feel like we can help them grow and get better? Are we excited about the player? That's a lot of it, too. It's hard for Brad and I to bring in guys we're warm about. You want to feel like you're hot over them because there's somewhere to go or they have something about them that you feel like you can develop.”
Detroit and the rest of the league's teams are required to trim their rosters to 53 by 4 p.m. Tuesday. Campbell said he expects the Lions to have most of the conversations with players by the end of the day Monday.
The process is the culmination of months of work, 18 training camp practices, four preseason games, and a number of behind-the-scenes meetings and sessions in the weight room that media and fans don’t see. It all matters.
“You're going to take the totality of it,” Campbell said. “I know for me, that's big. I want to know, from start to finish, what did it look like and was there constant improvement? Do you feel and see development through that time?”
Campbell said one thing that does concern him in the evaluation process is when the practice tape is good and a player is unable to transfer that success to the exhibition games. He also acknowledged that he, as a coach, can’t become enamored by a small sample size, such as a strong performance in a single preseason game.
The coach also mentioned the eventual returns of several key contributors, notably Alim McNeill and Malcolm Rodriguez, as being considerations during cuts. But Campbell also said the team has to think big picture based on historical trends.
“You've got to be careful and worry about today, worry about what's right in front of us a little bit,” Campbell said. “The odds, unfortunately, it will shake out where we won't have to make that decision. I hope not, but that's how it's been here going on five years.”
As is tradition, Brad Holmes will have a presser toward the end of the week after the dust settles.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Of course they’ve also got eyes on other teams moves in case they want to put in a claim, but we are 28th on the WW priority list per NFL.
(ChatGPT thinks they hold the #2 waiver behind only the Jags)
(ChatGPT thinks they hold the #2 waiver behind only the Jags)
Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
Hilarious.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
2 more - now at 74
● DT Brodric Martin
A third-round pick in 2023, Martin has failed to live up to the intriguing potential. Announced as a developmental talent upon his arrival, he barely saw the field as a rookie. He was making positive progress during his second offseason before it was derailed by a knee injury. Once he returned, he proved unable to capitalize on his opportunities and struggled to see the field down the stretch. Buried on the depth chart by new additions this offseason, he wasn't able to overcome the long odds. A return to the practice squad isn't out of the question if he clears waivers. However, it wouldn't be surprising to see another team take a shot on his uniquely large frame, highlighted by his 36-inch arms.
● CB Luq Barcoo
Reported by AtoZ Sports
A journeyman veteran who popped onto the roster in early August, Barcoo only saw playing time against the Dolphins in the preseason. Still, it was a solid showing, with two pass breakups in 20 snaps.
● DT Brodric Martin
A third-round pick in 2023, Martin has failed to live up to the intriguing potential. Announced as a developmental talent upon his arrival, he barely saw the field as a rookie. He was making positive progress during his second offseason before it was derailed by a knee injury. Once he returned, he proved unable to capitalize on his opportunities and struggled to see the field down the stretch. Buried on the depth chart by new additions this offseason, he wasn't able to overcome the long odds. A return to the practice squad isn't out of the question if he clears waivers. However, it wouldn't be surprising to see another team take a shot on his uniquely large frame, highlighted by his 36-inch arms.
● CB Luq Barcoo
Reported by AtoZ Sports
A journeyman veteran who popped onto the roster in early August, Barcoo only saw playing time against the Dolphins in the preseason. Still, it was a solid showing, with two pass breakups in 20 snaps.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
rn it’s 35 on offense, 36 on defense, 3 specialists
Da Guru
Fair & Balanced
Hooker beat out Big Joe at Tennessee.Don't they have Joe Milton? He's erratic as all hell but has probably shown more than Hooker has.TV
I’m a football fan. You can be interested in things outside your favorite team, lol.
More people are waking up to the Goff/Hooker situation. It’s no longer just me.Actually, there were always people besides me who were wondering about it, but I guess I was the most vocal. It’s a thing now.
The problem with Goff is he’s good enough to beat up on lesser teams and pad his stats with all the weapons he’s got, plus a great OL, but in the playoffs, when everything speeds up and you’re also going against the best players and coaches, Goff lacks the athleticism (as in none) to make a difference. Plus, it’s not like he’s got top-tier arm talent. It’s a bad combination to try to win a title with in today’s NFL. I wouldn’t say it’s impossible with Goff, but the odds are very discouraging. Look at the 4 QBs left…
It’s time for Detroit to give serious consideration to moving on from Goff in some fashion. Hooker may not ultimately make it, but he has some qualities that could take their offense to the next level and get them over the hump. Do you want to win a bunch of regular season games or do you want to win a title? Windows close quickly in the NFL. Time is ticking and that’s not something that’s negotiable.
The "Goff/Hooker" situation has been resolved. Hooker is back on the streets.
Dallas looking for a mobile backup? Dak has a bad ankle and tore his hammy off the bone last season.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Hooker beat out Big Joe at Tennessee.Don't they have Joe Milton? He's erratic as all hell but has probably shown more than Hooker has.TV
I’m a football fan. You can be interested in things outside your favorite team, lol.
More people are waking up to the Goff/Hooker situation. It’s no longer just me.
The problem with Goff is he’s good enough to beat up on lesser teams and pad his stats with all the weapons he’s got, plus a great OL, but in the playoffs, when everything speeds up and you’re also going against the best players and coaches, Goff lacks the athleticism (as in none) to make a difference. Plus, it’s not like he’s got top-tier arm talent. It’s a bad combination to try to win a title with in today’s NFL. I wouldn’t say it’s impossible with Goff, but the odds are very discouraging. Look at the 4 QBs left…
It’s time for Detroit to give serious consideration to moving on from Goff in some fashion. Hooker may not ultimately make it, but he has some qualities that could take their offense to the next level and get them over the hump. Do you want to win a bunch of regular season games or do you want to win a title? Windows close quickly in the NFL. Time is ticking and that’s not something that’s negotiable.
The "Goff/Hooker" situation has been resolved. Hooker is back on the streets.
Dallas looking for a mobile backup? Dak has a bad ankle and tore his hammy off the bone last season.
After Hooker was injured (& was reputedly a Heisman candidate), Milton put up significantly better numbers:
9 G
53 COMP
82 ATT
64.6 COMP%
971 YDS
10 TD
12.2 TD%
0 INT
0.0 INT
11.8 YPA
18.3 YPC
107.9 YPG
204.3 RATING
was pretty mid at Michigan but flourished once UT relied on him
10 TD 0 INT 11.8 YPA 204.3 passer rating
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BobbyLayne
Footballguy
presumably that’s all for tonight but who knows
out all day tomorrow as it’s time to acknowledge another lap around the Sun
out all day tomorrow as it’s time to acknowledge another lap around the Sun
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
OL Zack Johnson
A veteran of eight NFL rosters across six seasons, the Lions leaned on that ability to quickly adapt, adding Johnson on Aug. 14. He appeared in the final two preseason games, including one two days after he signed, seeing 51 snaps, all at left guard. Despite the challenging circumstances, he managed to grade out well, particularly as a run blocker, according to Pro Football Focus.
18 cuts, roster at 73, 20 to go - excluding PUP & NFI. IR-R TBD.
A veteran of eight NFL rosters across six seasons, the Lions leaned on that ability to quickly adapt, adding Johnson on Aug. 14. He appeared in the final two preseason games, including one two days after he signed, seeing 51 snaps, all at left guard. Despite the challenging circumstances, he managed to grade out well, particularly as a run blocker, according to Pro Football Focus.
18 cuts, roster at 73, 20 to go - excluding PUP & NFI. IR-R TBD.
Things seem to be winding down for the night. It doesn't mean there won't be more cuts that leak out, but the conversations with the players are likely long done for the day, and those agents/players aren't likely responding to communications.
I can tell you I've had several conversations today with sources, and if the ones that haven't responded to me by now, it's probably not happening. That's cool. There's zero obligation to do so. I know they are getting FLOODED with communications, particularly from local reporters, so I typically don't text or leave a message more than once on a day like this.
I'll keep a finger on the pulse until I call it a night, probably after midnight. Then I'll pick things back up in the morning. I'm typically up around 6-6:30. The tracker currently sits at 73 players on the way to 53, but doesn't include some very obvious cuts, the formal transfers of Alim McNeill, Malcolm Rodriguez, Miles Frazier and Josh Paschal to their respective injured list (PUP/NFI), and potentially Hassanein (and maybe Colon/Norris) to IR with a designation to return. Ezekiel Turner's season might be done, as well, based on what information was available after the game. So, in reality, we're really waiting on five or so more decisions. We're talking guys like Strickland, Ukwu, Chris Smith and Keith Cooper.
One name that feels safe, based on what I heard, is Kingsley Eguakun. No news is good news, and I've heard nothing on that front.
Rest easy and we'll talk more in the morning (and probably before then, because you know I'll be checking in constantly.)
The road to 53: Detroit Lions' 2025 roster cutdown tracker
The Detroit Lions have begun trimming their roster to the required 53 players ahead of Tuesday’s 4 p.m. deadline.www.detroitfootball.net
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
ESPN dropped their NFL Top 100 List today and here is where the Detroit Lions are ranked:
14. Penei Sewell
16. Aidan Hutchinson
33. Jahmyr Gibbs
42. Amon-Ra St. Brown
51. Brian Branch
60. Kerby Joseph
66. Jared Goff
83. Sam LaPorta
Does anyone care? I haven’t watch ESPN in 14 years except live sportscast.
NFLN (another one that went the wrong direction) Top 100 aka the Official List PFR cites:
20. ARSB
27. Gibbs
55. Hutch
71. Joseph
94. LaPorta
Top 18 get slow rolled between now and Labor Day.
Goff and Sewell TBD.
Branch & Campbell will not make it. Jamo and DJ Reed were probably never close to being considered. But all 4 could make it next year IMO.
14. Penei Sewell
16. Aidan Hutchinson
33. Jahmyr Gibbs
42. Amon-Ra St. Brown
51. Brian Branch
60. Kerby Joseph
66. Jared Goff
83. Sam LaPorta
Does anyone care? I haven’t watch ESPN in 14 years except live sportscast.
NFLN (another one that went the wrong direction) Top 100 aka the Official List PFR cites:
20. ARSB
27. Gibbs
55. Hutch
71. Joseph
94. LaPorta
Top 18 get slow rolled between now and Labor Day.
Goff and Sewell TBD.
Branch & Campbell will not make it. Jamo and DJ Reed were probably never close to being considered. But all 4 could make it next year IMO.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
cuts like a knife
Allen Park — The Detroit Lions have begun trimming their roster to the required 53 players ahead of Tuesday’s 4 p.m. deadline.
Cuts
Last updated: Tuesday, 1:48 p.m.
S Morice Norris
Reported by Aaron Wilson
Signed as an undrafted rookie ahead of the 2024 season, Norris was making a positive impression during his debut training camp before an injury led to his release. The Lions added him back to the practice squad in September, and he wound up appearing in two games, plus he logged significant defensive snaps in the playoffs when injuries decimated the depth chart.
Norris was in the mix for a back-of-the-roster job this offseason. However, he suffered a brutal concussion in the team's second preseason contest, requiring him to be taken off the field by ambulance and leading to the game's stoppage.
He's remained in concussion protocol since that hit on Aug. 8, but he's shown recent signs of progress, running under the supervision of the training staff on the side during practices.
LB DaRon Gilbert
Reported by the Detroit Free Press
A Detroit native, former Brother Rice standout and Northern Illinois alum, Gilbert initially signed with the Lions as a UDFA in 2024. He suffered an injury during camp, leading to his release, but was brought back in late December. He saw 62 of his 65 defensive reps this preseason in the final two games, tallying six stops, including one for a loss.
Cuts
Last updated: Tuesday, 1:48 p.m.
S Morice Norris
Reported by Aaron Wilson
Signed as an undrafted rookie ahead of the 2024 season, Norris was making a positive impression during his debut training camp before an injury led to his release. The Lions added him back to the practice squad in September, and he wound up appearing in two games, plus he logged significant defensive snaps in the playoffs when injuries decimated the depth chart.
Norris was in the mix for a back-of-the-roster job this offseason. However, he suffered a brutal concussion in the team's second preseason contest, requiring him to be taken off the field by ambulance and leading to the game's stoppage.
He's remained in concussion protocol since that hit on Aug. 8, but he's shown recent signs of progress, running under the supervision of the training staff on the side during practices.
LB DaRon Gilbert
Reported by the Detroit Free Press
A Detroit native, former Brother Rice standout and Northern Illinois alum, Gilbert initially signed with the Lions as a UDFA in 2024. He suffered an injury during camp, leading to his release, but was brought back in late December. He saw 62 of his 65 defensive reps this preseason in the final two games, tallying six stops, including one for a loss.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
OL Mason Miller
Reported by Sports Illustrated
An undrafted rookie signing out of North Dakota State, Miller saw extensive work in the preseason, averaging 30 snaps in the four matchups. He played the first two at right tackle and the final two at right guard. Protection was an issue, particularly at tackle. He allowed five pressures and two sacks in 71 pass-blocking situations, with one of the sacks resulting in his quarterback losing a fumble.
Reported by Sports Illustrated
An undrafted rookie signing out of North Dakota State, Miller saw extensive work in the preseason, averaging 30 snaps in the four matchups. He played the first two at right tackle and the final two at right guard. Protection was an issue, particularly at tackle. He allowed five pressures and two sacks in 71 pass-blocking situations, with one of the sacks resulting in his quarterback losing a fumble.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Current Roster (71 players)
Quarterbacks (2)
Jared Goff, Kyle Allen
Running back (4)
Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montomery, Craig Reynolds, Sione Vaki
Wide receivers (8)
Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Tim Patrick, Kalif Raymond, Isaac TeSlaa, Dominic Lovett, Ronnie Bell, Malik Taylor
Tight ends (5)
Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, Shane Zylstra, Zach Horton, Steven Stilianos
Injured Reserve: Kenny Yeboah
Offensive line (14)
Penei Sewell, Taylor Decker, Christian Mahogany, Tate Ratledge, Graham Glasgow, Giovani Manu, Kayode Awosika, Kingsley Eguakun, Netane Muti, Jamarco Jones, Michael Niese, Gunner Britton, Miles Frazier, Trystan Colon
Injured Reserve: Justin Herron, Colby Sorsdal
Edge defenders (6)
Aidan Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport, Al-Quadin Muhammad, Isaac Ukwu, Josh Paschal, Ahmed Hassanein
Defensive tackles (8)
DJ Reader, Tyleik Williams, Pat O’Connor, Roy Lopez, Chris Smith, Mekhi Wingo, Keith Cooper Jr., Alim McNeill
PUP Reserve: Levi Onwuzurike
Linebackers (8)
Jack Campbell, Alex Anzalone, Derrick Barnes, Grant Stuard, Trevor Nowaske, Zach Cunningham, Malcolm Rodriguez, Ezekiel Turner
Defensive backs (12)
Terrion Arnold, DJ Reed, Amik Robertson, Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph, Rock Ya-Sin, Avonte Maddox, Khalil Dorsey, Loren Strickland, Allan George, D.J. Miller, Tyson Russell
Injured Reserve: Ennis Rakestraw, Dan Jackson
Specialists (3)
Jack Fox, Jake Bates, Hogan Hatten
Quarterbacks (2)
Jared Goff, Kyle Allen
Running back (4)
Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montomery, Craig Reynolds, Sione Vaki
Wide receivers (8)
Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Tim Patrick, Kalif Raymond, Isaac TeSlaa, Dominic Lovett, Ronnie Bell, Malik Taylor
Tight ends (5)
Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, Shane Zylstra, Zach Horton, Steven Stilianos
Injured Reserve: Kenny Yeboah
Offensive line (14)
Penei Sewell, Taylor Decker, Christian Mahogany, Tate Ratledge, Graham Glasgow, Giovani Manu, Kayode Awosika, Kingsley Eguakun, Netane Muti, Jamarco Jones, Michael Niese, Gunner Britton, Miles Frazier, Trystan Colon
Injured Reserve: Justin Herron, Colby Sorsdal
Edge defenders (6)
Aidan Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport, Al-Quadin Muhammad, Isaac Ukwu, Josh Paschal, Ahmed Hassanein
Defensive tackles (8)
DJ Reader, Tyleik Williams, Pat O’Connor, Roy Lopez, Chris Smith, Mekhi Wingo, Keith Cooper Jr., Alim McNeill
PUP Reserve: Levi Onwuzurike
Linebackers (8)
Jack Campbell, Alex Anzalone, Derrick Barnes, Grant Stuard, Trevor Nowaske, Zach Cunningham, Malcolm Rodriguez, Ezekiel Turner
Defensive backs (12)
Terrion Arnold, DJ Reed, Amik Robertson, Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph, Rock Ya-Sin, Avonte Maddox, Khalil Dorsey, Loren Strickland, Allan George, D.J. Miller, Tyson Russell
Injured Reserve: Ennis Rakestraw, Dan Jackson
Specialists (3)
Jack Fox, Jake Bates, Hogan Hatten
Last edited:
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
@Lions
Lions announce roster moves:
Lions announce roster moves:
- Placed LB Ezekiel Turner on Reserve/Injured.
- Waived DE Ahmed Hassanein with an Injury Settlement.
- Released:
- DL Myles Adams
- OL Trystan Colon
- WR Tom Kennedy
- OL Netane Muti
- LB Anthony Pittman
- OL Dan Skipper
- WR Malik Taylor
- DE Mitchell Agude
- CB Luq Barcoo
- WR Ronnie Bell
- OL Gunner Britton
- DL Keith Cooper
- CB Allan George
- LB DaRon Gilbert
- S Erick Hallett II
- QB Hendon Hooker
- TE Zach Horton
- RB Deon Jackson
- OL Zack Johnson
- WR Jakobie Keeney-James
- S Ian Kennelly
- DE Nate Lynn
- DL Brodric Martin
- WR Jackson Meeks
- CB D.J. Miller
- OL Mason Miller
- OL Michael Niese
- S Morice Norris
- TE Gunnar Oakes
- CB Tyson Russell
- RB Jacob Saylors
- TE Steven Stilianos
- S Loren Strickland
- DE Isaac Ukwu
- CB Nick Whiteside
- Placed OL Miles Frazier, DL Alim McNeill, and LB Malcolm Rodriguez on Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform.
- Placed DE Josh Paschal on Reserve/Non-Football Injury.
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BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Detroit Lions' initial 53-man roster has just 50 players after cuts
Allen Park — I’ll provide some analysis regarding the Detroit Lions’ initial “53-man roster,” which has just 50 players, later tonight. But I wanted to share an immediate visual following the team’s moves at Tuesday’s 4 p.m. deadline.
Here’s how the team’s roster has taken shape:
Cut: Hendon Hooker
Cut: Jacob Saylors, Deon Jackson
Cut: Ronnie Bell, Jakobie Keeney-James, Tom Kennedy, Jackson Meeks, Malik Taylor
Cut: Zach Horton, Gunnar Oakes, Steven Stilianos
Injured Reserve: Kenny Yeboah
Cut: Gunner Britton, Trystan Colon, Zack Johnson, Mason Miller, Netane Muti, Michael Niese, Dan Skipper
Physically Unable to Perform: Miles Frazier
Injured Reserve: Justin Herron, Colby Sorsdal
Cut: Mitchell Agude, Ahmed Hassanein (with an injury settlement), Nate Lynn, Issac Ukwu
Non-football injury list: Josh Paschal
Cut: Myles Adams, Keith Cooper Jr., Brodric Martin
Physically Unable to Perform: Alim McNeill
PUP Reserve: Levi Onwuzurike
Cut: DaRon Gilbert, Anthony Pittman
Physically Unable to Perform: Malcolm Rodriguez
Injured Reserve: Ezekiel Turner
Cut: Luq Barcoo, Allan George, Erick Hallett, Ian Kennelly, D.J. Miller, Morice Norris, Tyson Russell, Loren Strickland, Nick Whiteside
Injured Reserve: Ennis Rakestraw, Dan Jackson
Cut: None
Here’s how the team’s roster has taken shape:
Lions’ initial roster after cuts
Quarterbacks (2)
Jared Goff, Kyle AllenCut: Hendon Hooker
Running back (4)
Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montomery, Craig Reynolds, Sione VakiCut: Jacob Saylors, Deon Jackson
Wide receivers (6)
Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Tim Patrick, Kalif Raymond, Isaac TeSlaa, Dominic LovettCut: Ronnie Bell, Jakobie Keeney-James, Tom Kennedy, Jackson Meeks, Malik Taylor
Tight ends (3)
Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, Shane ZylstraCut: Zach Horton, Gunnar Oakes, Steven Stilianos
Injured Reserve: Kenny Yeboah
Offensive line (9)
Penei Sewell, Taylor Decker, Christian Mahogany, Tate Ratledge, Graham Glasgow, Giovani Manu, Kayode Awosika, Kingsley Eguakun, Jamarco JonesCut: Gunner Britton, Trystan Colon, Zack Johnson, Mason Miller, Netane Muti, Michael Niese, Dan Skipper
Physically Unable to Perform: Miles Frazier
Injured Reserve: Justin Herron, Colby Sorsdal
Edge defenders (3)
Aidan Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport, Al-Quadin MuhammadCut: Mitchell Agude, Ahmed Hassanein (with an injury settlement), Nate Lynn, Issac Ukwu
Non-football injury list: Josh Paschal
Defensive tackles (6)
DJ Reader, Tyleik Williams, Pat O’Connor, Roy Lopez, Chris Smith, Mekhi WingoCut: Myles Adams, Keith Cooper Jr., Brodric Martin
Physically Unable to Perform: Alim McNeill
PUP Reserve: Levi Onwuzurike
Linebackers (6)
Jack Campbell, Alex Anzalone, Derrick Barnes, Grant Stuard, Trevor Nowaske, Zach CunninghamCut: DaRon Gilbert, Anthony Pittman
Physically Unable to Perform: Malcolm Rodriguez
Injured Reserve: Ezekiel Turner
Defensive backs (8)
Terrion Arnold, DJ Reed, Amik Robertson, Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph, Rock Ya-Sin, Avonte Maddox, Khalil DorseyCut: Luq Barcoo, Allan George, Erick Hallett, Ian Kennelly, D.J. Miller, Morice Norris, Tyson Russell, Loren Strickland, Nick Whiteside
Injured Reserve: Ennis Rakestraw, Dan Jackson
Specialists (3)
Jack Fox, Jake Bates, Hogan HattenCut: None
Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
I read somewhere that they were now below 53. Possible signing ahead?
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Brad carrying 50 players is Magnus Carlson getting to the table 8 minutes late, adjusting his pieces for two minutes, before playing some random move that makes no sense (because he got it from a 20-sided die), and then just obliterating the poor GM across from him.
I didn't see this coming.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Trying to make sense of the Detroit Lions' unique, 50-man roster after cuts
Allen Park — After spending several hours this weekend trying to predict how the Detroit Lions might sift through a slew of seemingly difficult decisions at the back of their roster to shape an initial 53-man setup, the decisions apparently weren’t as difficult as imagined.
The Lions went above and beyond with their slashing, chopping three more players than needed ahead of Tuesday’s 4 p.m. deadline. That left them with 50 on the roster and three spots to work with as the regular season opener with the Green Bay Packers rapidly approaches.
Respectfully, what the hell?
To be clear, this isn’t the first time Lions general manager Brad Holmes has gone below the required threshold. He did it last year, too, temporarily employing 52 players prior to claiming linebacker Trevor Nowaske off waivers the following day.
And it would be foolish to think Holmes doesn’t have a plan here, too. Regardless, it doesn’t make it any less surprising to those of us who have been watching practice daily since late July. All those intriguing young talents we brought up as pushing for jobs were essentially shoved aside.
Jackson Meeks? Out. Keith Cooper? The boot. Every young player battling for that fourth safety job all camp? Waiver fodder.
And it wasn’t just the young talent with upside. Stable veterans, led by longtime backup offensive tackle Dan Skipper, were also shown the door. In fact, the Lions dumped three of their more experienced backup offensive lineman in Skipper, Trystan Colon and Netane Muti.
Jamarco Jones replaces Skipper as the swing tackle. Maybe that was less of a surprise than initially thought. Jones battled a number of minor injuries during camp. However, it was clear the Lions were considering going this route when they started repping Jones at left tackle more as camp progressed. As for Muti, he was behind Kayode Awosika all camp, and Colon lost a tight race with Kingsley Eguakun, in large part due to an elbow injury suffered in the second preseason game against Atlanta that has kept Colon sidelined.
Let’s go back to the youth, because it highlights something that comes up nearly every year. We — both the media and the fans who consume our observations — tend to overvalue the talent in front of us. Odds are, most, maybe all of the players the Lions waived go unclaimed.
If there’s one I’m not sure about, it’s Meeks. There was a clear hunger for receiving talent on the trade market last week. Even though he doesn’t have measurables that will blow anyone away, Meeks has good size and some solid preseason tape that could intrigue another team.
The Lions clearly aren’t concerned, even if I’m certain they’ll happily add him back to the practice squad if he does clear waivers. The same with Cooper and at least a couple of those young defensive backs — Loren Strickland, Ian Kennelly and Erick Hallett.
But if the team had three spots to play with, why not sit tight and let things play out? Surely there’s a plan.
Obviously, Detroit’s edge-rushing situation sticks out like a sore thumb with only three players at the position. Of course, that ignores the versatility of some of their interior linemen, such as Pat O’Connor and Mekhi Wingo, who can play some of those wider alignments without issue.
Still, how are we not supposed to expect the Lions to be in on Za’Darius Smith after a couple of months of public flirtation? Through a national reporter on Tuesday morning, Smith’s agent is clearly floating interest from multiple contending teams. However, Detroit continues to make all the sense in the world. There have been gaps to bridge regarding role and salary. Still, I think an incentive-laden deal continues to make a lot of sense if he's amenable.
I’ve believed an agreement would be reached for a while, given both he and Holmes publicly commented on continued interest, but probably now more than ever.
As for the other two spots, I think about a question coach Dan Campbell was asked Monday regarding the eventual reinforcements the roster has coming in the form of Alim McNeill, Malcolm Rodriguez, Josh Paschal and Miles Frazier. The coach acknowledged those could factor into Tuesday's decisions, and I wonder if the Lions intend to leave a spot or two open through Week 1 to avoid guaranteeing the salary of a player who might not survive those returns if the rest of the roster stays relatively healthy. That certainly makes some sense. Pinching pennies is worthwhile for a franchise that might be well under the cap now, but needs every dollar it can find to re-sign its young stars, most notably Aidan Hutchinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, Brian Branch and Sam LaPorta. We can probably include Jameson Williams in that mix, as well.
Another surprise was the decision to release sixth-round pick Ahmed Hassanein with an injury settlement. That one is going to require more information to assess because the Lions had an available IR spot with a designation to return that they didn’t use.
However, with an injury settlement, Hassanein could still eventually return to the Lions this season. That route also makes it easier for him to go directly to the practice squad, where the Lions might feel he’s best-suited as he continues to develop.
In terms of non-surprises, it’s arguably the end of the line for 2023 third-round picks Hendon Hooker and Brodric Martin. Both could conceivably be back on the practice squad, but Campbell’s comments about Hooker potentially needing a change of scenery point to the relationship being severed.
As for Martin, I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets claimed. He’s a uniquely large human, with 36-inch arms, and the type of talent some defensive line coach or coordinator will be convinced they can fix/develop. Still, even if he’s not claimed, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Lions are ready to abort the mission after three long offseasons of minimal growth.
Up next is waiver claims, which are awarded on Wednesday at noon.
We’ll see if there are any potential practice squaders the Lions will lose, or if there’s a Nowaske worth grabbing from another team’s discards. Then we’ll see how Holmes’ plan unfolds, whether it includes Smith, is simple cap management to eventually pay Hutchinson and company, or both.
The Lions went above and beyond with their slashing, chopping three more players than needed ahead of Tuesday’s 4 p.m. deadline. That left them with 50 on the roster and three spots to work with as the regular season opener with the Green Bay Packers rapidly approaches.
Respectfully, what the hell?
To be clear, this isn’t the first time Lions general manager Brad Holmes has gone below the required threshold. He did it last year, too, temporarily employing 52 players prior to claiming linebacker Trevor Nowaske off waivers the following day.
And it would be foolish to think Holmes doesn’t have a plan here, too. Regardless, it doesn’t make it any less surprising to those of us who have been watching practice daily since late July. All those intriguing young talents we brought up as pushing for jobs were essentially shoved aside.
Jackson Meeks? Out. Keith Cooper? The boot. Every young player battling for that fourth safety job all camp? Waiver fodder.
And it wasn’t just the young talent with upside. Stable veterans, led by longtime backup offensive tackle Dan Skipper, were also shown the door. In fact, the Lions dumped three of their more experienced backup offensive lineman in Skipper, Trystan Colon and Netane Muti.
Jamarco Jones replaces Skipper as the swing tackle. Maybe that was less of a surprise than initially thought. Jones battled a number of minor injuries during camp. However, it was clear the Lions were considering going this route when they started repping Jones at left tackle more as camp progressed. As for Muti, he was behind Kayode Awosika all camp, and Colon lost a tight race with Kingsley Eguakun, in large part due to an elbow injury suffered in the second preseason game against Atlanta that has kept Colon sidelined.
Let’s go back to the youth, because it highlights something that comes up nearly every year. We — both the media and the fans who consume our observations — tend to overvalue the talent in front of us. Odds are, most, maybe all of the players the Lions waived go unclaimed.
If there’s one I’m not sure about, it’s Meeks. There was a clear hunger for receiving talent on the trade market last week. Even though he doesn’t have measurables that will blow anyone away, Meeks has good size and some solid preseason tape that could intrigue another team.
The Lions clearly aren’t concerned, even if I’m certain they’ll happily add him back to the practice squad if he does clear waivers. The same with Cooper and at least a couple of those young defensive backs — Loren Strickland, Ian Kennelly and Erick Hallett.
But if the team had three spots to play with, why not sit tight and let things play out? Surely there’s a plan.
Obviously, Detroit’s edge-rushing situation sticks out like a sore thumb with only three players at the position. Of course, that ignores the versatility of some of their interior linemen, such as Pat O’Connor and Mekhi Wingo, who can play some of those wider alignments without issue.
Still, how are we not supposed to expect the Lions to be in on Za’Darius Smith after a couple of months of public flirtation? Through a national reporter on Tuesday morning, Smith’s agent is clearly floating interest from multiple contending teams. However, Detroit continues to make all the sense in the world. There have been gaps to bridge regarding role and salary. Still, I think an incentive-laden deal continues to make a lot of sense if he's amenable.
I’ve believed an agreement would be reached for a while, given both he and Holmes publicly commented on continued interest, but probably now more than ever.
As for the other two spots, I think about a question coach Dan Campbell was asked Monday regarding the eventual reinforcements the roster has coming in the form of Alim McNeill, Malcolm Rodriguez, Josh Paschal and Miles Frazier. The coach acknowledged those could factor into Tuesday's decisions, and I wonder if the Lions intend to leave a spot or two open through Week 1 to avoid guaranteeing the salary of a player who might not survive those returns if the rest of the roster stays relatively healthy. That certainly makes some sense. Pinching pennies is worthwhile for a franchise that might be well under the cap now, but needs every dollar it can find to re-sign its young stars, most notably Aidan Hutchinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, Brian Branch and Sam LaPorta. We can probably include Jameson Williams in that mix, as well.
Another surprise was the decision to release sixth-round pick Ahmed Hassanein with an injury settlement. That one is going to require more information to assess because the Lions had an available IR spot with a designation to return that they didn’t use.
However, with an injury settlement, Hassanein could still eventually return to the Lions this season. That route also makes it easier for him to go directly to the practice squad, where the Lions might feel he’s best-suited as he continues to develop.
In terms of non-surprises, it’s arguably the end of the line for 2023 third-round picks Hendon Hooker and Brodric Martin. Both could conceivably be back on the practice squad, but Campbell’s comments about Hooker potentially needing a change of scenery point to the relationship being severed.
As for Martin, I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets claimed. He’s a uniquely large human, with 36-inch arms, and the type of talent some defensive line coach or coordinator will be convinced they can fix/develop. Still, even if he’s not claimed, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Lions are ready to abort the mission after three long offseasons of minimal growth.
Up next is waiver claims, which are awarded on Wednesday at noon.
We’ll see if there are any potential practice squaders the Lions will lose, or if there’s a Nowaske worth grabbing from another team’s discards. Then we’ll see how Holmes’ plan unfolds, whether it includes Smith, is simple cap management to eventually pay Hutchinson and company, or both.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Tim Patrick traded to the Jags for 6th round pick. Buy TeSlaa.
Unrelated transaction, the Lions are adding S Daniel Thomas of the Jags. 71 g in 5 years, 4 gs, none since 2022. He’s logged an average of 240 Special Teams snaps while logging 80 defensive snaps in the last 3 seasons.
Unrelated transaction, the Lions are adding S Daniel Thomas of the Jags. 71 g in 5 years, 4 gs, none since 2022. He’s logged an average of 240 Special Teams snaps while logging 80 defensive snaps in the last 3 seasons.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Detroit Lions trading Tim Patrick to Jacksonville
Allen Park — Offseason speculation that the Detroit Lions might move on from receiver Tim Patrick has come to fruition.
Early Wednesday morning, multiple reports have the Lions shipping the veteran to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for a sixth-round pick in next year’s draft.
Patrick joined the Lions ahead of the start of the 2024 season after he was released by the Denver Broncos. He initially signed to the team’s practice squad before he was promoted to the main roster less than a month later.
After missing the previous two seasons with serious leg injuries, Patrick brought much-needed stability to Detroit’s No. 3 receiver position. The 6-foot-5, 210-pounder caught 33-of-44 targets for 394 yards and three touchdowns. He was also a reliable blocker on the outside, an important facet of the position in Detroit’s scheme.
The Lions re-signed Patrick, 31, this offseason to a one-year deal. The fully guaranteed $2.5 million contract included $1.245 million signing bonus and the potential to earn another $1.5 million in incentives. Following the deal, the Lions will retain the dead cap hit tied to the bonus money.
Despite expectations that he'd continue to fill the same role, Patrick had a sluggish training camp, further marred by a quad injury that cost him more than a week of practice time. In a media session prior to suffering the injury, he talked about how he was struggling to adjust to the higher physical demands of an offseason with the Lions.
“Look, Tim’s hard on himself,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said after those comments. “Look, he hasn’t been targeted a bunch. That doesn’t help when you’re doing a lot of the dirty work and you really haven’t had that many balls go your way. …But I would tell you it’s not as bad as he’s portraying it. We know what Tim is. He’s just a steady, reliable veteran guy, plays big, he’s smart, hard worker and he's going to put his days back-to-back and he’s going to be just fine.”
When Patrick returned to practice from the injury, he primarily repped with the second-team offense, where he put together a couple of his stronger days. Still, it didn’t offset the red-hot camp of rookie Isaac TeSlaa, who was effectively drafted to be Patrick’s replacement after this season.
TeSlaa played the first halves of Detroit’s four preseason games, catching 10 passes for 146 yards and three touchdowns, with a score in each of the final three games.
“I feel pretty good,” Campbell said. “…He’s no different than any young player. He’s just going to have some growing pains. He’s going to continue to get better and better. But I’m very pleased, we’re very pleased with where he’s at after six weeks of camp.
“…I’d say, if you took most (rookie) receivers, he’d be in the upper echelon of those, as far as development. It’s pretty good. It’s not easy to develop as a receiver in this league and be ready to go, and I think there’s a place for him to help us early in this season.”
With the Patrick trade, the Lions now have five receivers on their roster — Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Kalif Raymond, TeSlaa and Dominic Lovett, a seventh-round pick in the most recent draft.
Raymond was the recipient of most of the first-team reps following Patrick’s mid-camp demotion.
Early Wednesday morning, multiple reports have the Lions shipping the veteran to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for a sixth-round pick in next year’s draft.
Patrick joined the Lions ahead of the start of the 2024 season after he was released by the Denver Broncos. He initially signed to the team’s practice squad before he was promoted to the main roster less than a month later.
After missing the previous two seasons with serious leg injuries, Patrick brought much-needed stability to Detroit’s No. 3 receiver position. The 6-foot-5, 210-pounder caught 33-of-44 targets for 394 yards and three touchdowns. He was also a reliable blocker on the outside, an important facet of the position in Detroit’s scheme.
The Lions re-signed Patrick, 31, this offseason to a one-year deal. The fully guaranteed $2.5 million contract included $1.245 million signing bonus and the potential to earn another $1.5 million in incentives. Following the deal, the Lions will retain the dead cap hit tied to the bonus money.
Despite expectations that he'd continue to fill the same role, Patrick had a sluggish training camp, further marred by a quad injury that cost him more than a week of practice time. In a media session prior to suffering the injury, he talked about how he was struggling to adjust to the higher physical demands of an offseason with the Lions.
“Look, Tim’s hard on himself,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said after those comments. “Look, he hasn’t been targeted a bunch. That doesn’t help when you’re doing a lot of the dirty work and you really haven’t had that many balls go your way. …But I would tell you it’s not as bad as he’s portraying it. We know what Tim is. He’s just a steady, reliable veteran guy, plays big, he’s smart, hard worker and he's going to put his days back-to-back and he’s going to be just fine.”
When Patrick returned to practice from the injury, he primarily repped with the second-team offense, where he put together a couple of his stronger days. Still, it didn’t offset the red-hot camp of rookie Isaac TeSlaa, who was effectively drafted to be Patrick’s replacement after this season.
TeSlaa played the first halves of Detroit’s four preseason games, catching 10 passes for 146 yards and three touchdowns, with a score in each of the final three games.
“I feel pretty good,” Campbell said. “…He’s no different than any young player. He’s just going to have some growing pains. He’s going to continue to get better and better. But I’m very pleased, we’re very pleased with where he’s at after six weeks of camp.
“…I’d say, if you took most (rookie) receivers, he’d be in the upper echelon of those, as far as development. It’s pretty good. It’s not easy to develop as a receiver in this league and be ready to go, and I think there’s a place for him to help us early in this season.”
With the Patrick trade, the Lions now have five receivers on their roster — Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Kalif Raymond, TeSlaa and Dominic Lovett, a seventh-round pick in the most recent draft.
Raymond was the recipient of most of the first-team reps following Patrick’s mid-camp demotion.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Lions adding veteran safety Daniel Thomas
Allen Park — The Detroit Lions are filling one of their four roster openings by signing veteran safety Daniel Thomas.
The news was first reported by ESPN.
A fifth-round pick out of Auburn in 2020, Thomas has spent his entire five-year career with the Jacksonville Jaguars, appearing in 71 games. His primary contributions have come on special teams. The 5-foot-10, 215-pounder has averaged nearly 240 snaps with those groups the past five seasons.
Defensively, Thomas has started just four games, and none since the 2021 season. He’s logged only 80 defensive snaps combined the past three years.
Thomas was released by the Jaguars earlier this week. As a vested veteran, he was not subject to waivers and free to sign with the team of his choosing.
By signing with Detroit, Thomas is reunited with Lions secondary coach DeShea Townsend, who coached the Jaguars' cornerbacks in 2022 and 2023 before coming to the Lions.
Despite the limited defensive resume, Thomas adds veteran depth to one of the thinnest spots on Detroit’s roster. Beyond the team’s starting tandem of Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch, Detroit was set to lean on Rock Ya-Sin and Avonte Maddox, two versatile veterans who have played far more cornerback than safety during their careers.
The Lions had a number of young contenders for a roster spot. However, the team ended up waiving four of them on Tuesday — Erick Hallett, Loren Strickland, Morice Norris and Ian Kennelly. Additionally, the Lions drafted Dan Jackson in the seventh round. Unfortunately, the rookie suffered a season-ending leg injury during training camp.
The news was first reported by ESPN.
A fifth-round pick out of Auburn in 2020, Thomas has spent his entire five-year career with the Jacksonville Jaguars, appearing in 71 games. His primary contributions have come on special teams. The 5-foot-10, 215-pounder has averaged nearly 240 snaps with those groups the past five seasons.
Defensively, Thomas has started just four games, and none since the 2021 season. He’s logged only 80 defensive snaps combined the past three years.
Thomas was released by the Jaguars earlier this week. As a vested veteran, he was not subject to waivers and free to sign with the team of his choosing.
By signing with Detroit, Thomas is reunited with Lions secondary coach DeShea Townsend, who coached the Jaguars' cornerbacks in 2022 and 2023 before coming to the Lions.
Despite the limited defensive resume, Thomas adds veteran depth to one of the thinnest spots on Detroit’s roster. Beyond the team’s starting tandem of Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch, Detroit was set to lean on Rock Ya-Sin and Avonte Maddox, two versatile veterans who have played far more cornerback than safety during their careers.
The Lions had a number of young contenders for a roster spot. However, the team ended up waiving four of them on Tuesday — Erick Hallett, Loren Strickland, Morice Norris and Ian Kennelly. Additionally, the Lions drafted Dan Jackson in the seventh round. Unfortunately, the rookie suffered a season-ending leg injury during training camp.
ignatiusjreilly
Footballguy
I get the logic, but I’m bummed because I liked him so much. Such a great story, and by all accounts a great locker room guy, too.
Also, I’ve found him very useful when playing as the Lions in both Madden 25 and 26
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
By his own admission he did not have a good TC. Said he was just not used to experiencing that level of intensity & hitting when they're not tackling to the ground. Beat reporters said he just seemed slower.
Anyway, good guy, but continues the tradition of switching out the WR3.
- 2022 - DJ Chark, who a lot of people wanted to resign, to
- 2023 - Josh Reynolds, who spent 6.5 of his first y seasons catching passes from Jared Goff, to
- 2024 - Tim Patrick, who was reliable, to
- 2025 - Isaac TeSlaa, who has a ton of upside but right now he's probably behind Raymond in the pecking order
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Lions add two defensive linemen off waivers; no players waived by team on Tuesday get claimed
Allen Park — The Detroit Lions bolstered their defensive line through waivers on Wednesday, claiming Tyler Lacy and Tyrus Wheat.
Lacy was a fourth-round draft pick out of Oklahoma State in 2023. He appeared in 28 games for the Jacksonville Jaguars the past two seasons, including eight starts as a rookie.
Listed at 6-foot-4, 280 pounds, he primarily plays inside, but did see some work on the edge for the Jaguars. Playing 485 defensive snaps the past two seasons, he tallied 37 tackles (three for a loss) and four quarterback hits. He hasn’t recorded a sack.
Wheat, who came into the league in 2023 as an undrafted free agent out of Mississippi State, has appeared in 20 games for the Dallas Cowboys the past two seasons.
After primarily playing special teams as a rookie, Wheat got 165 defensive snaps in his second season, registering 14 tackles, seven quarterback pressures and a half-sack.
Wheat played a ton this preseason, drawing 144 snaps in three games for Dallas. He continued to flash as a pocket disruptor, generating nine pressures on 70 rush attempts.
Both Lacy and Wheat are above-average athletes for their positions, each showcasing impressive burst coming out of college via the 10-yard splits of their 40-yard dashes.
The additions bring Detroit's roster up to 52 players, following the morning trade of wide receiver Tim Patrick and the pending signing of veteran safety and special teams maven Daniel Thomas.
Across the league, just 27 players were claimed after several hundred were waived around the league a day earlier. None of the 28 players waived by the Lions were claimed, including quarterback Hendon Hooker and wide receiver Jackson Meeks. All 28 of those players are immediately free to sign with practice squads. Those 16-man units will be quickly pieced together, with most of the agreements expected to get done Wednesday afternoon.
Lacy was a fourth-round draft pick out of Oklahoma State in 2023. He appeared in 28 games for the Jacksonville Jaguars the past two seasons, including eight starts as a rookie.
Listed at 6-foot-4, 280 pounds, he primarily plays inside, but did see some work on the edge for the Jaguars. Playing 485 defensive snaps the past two seasons, he tallied 37 tackles (three for a loss) and four quarterback hits. He hasn’t recorded a sack.
Wheat, who came into the league in 2023 as an undrafted free agent out of Mississippi State, has appeared in 20 games for the Dallas Cowboys the past two seasons.
After primarily playing special teams as a rookie, Wheat got 165 defensive snaps in his second season, registering 14 tackles, seven quarterback pressures and a half-sack.
Wheat played a ton this preseason, drawing 144 snaps in three games for Dallas. He continued to flash as a pocket disruptor, generating nine pressures on 70 rush attempts.
Both Lacy and Wheat are above-average athletes for their positions, each showcasing impressive burst coming out of college via the 10-yard splits of their 40-yard dashes.
The additions bring Detroit's roster up to 52 players, following the morning trade of wide receiver Tim Patrick and the pending signing of veteran safety and special teams maven Daniel Thomas.
Across the league, just 27 players were claimed after several hundred were waived around the league a day earlier. None of the 28 players waived by the Lions were claimed, including quarterback Hendon Hooker and wide receiver Jackson Meeks. All 28 of those players are immediately free to sign with practice squads. Those 16-man units will be quickly pieced together, with most of the agreements expected to get done Wednesday afternoon.
Signing a guy off the scrap heap, getting a good year out of him, and then flipping him for an asset when you draft a better version is a big win for the Lions
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Brodric and Hooker both moving on, as expected. Hooker to Carolina, Brodric to KC. BBQ upgrades for both.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
When the Lions were rolling last year & Patrick was getting worked in, every week the Check the Mic guys would joke “Hey to everybody crying because the Bills let the Chiefs take Xavier Worthy, where were you when the whole league let Detroit sign Tim Patrick? It’s over now, Green Bay.”
Which became even more hilarious when TP caught 2 TDs vs the Pack, his first scoring play in like 1100 days.
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BobbyLayne
Footballguy
[Rogers]
From yesterday:
"Another surprise was the decision to release sixth-round pick Ahmed Hassanein with an injury settlement. That one is going to require more information to assess because the Lions had an available IR spot with a designation to return that they didn’t use.
However, with an injury settlement, Hassanein could still eventually return to the Lions this season. That route also makes it easier for him to go directly to the practice squad, where the Lions might feel he’s best-suited as he continues to develop.”
Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
I think someone mentioned it a couple days ago but Holmes has a knack of sneaking guys through waivers.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Meh - the odds are in your favor there. 1184 players get released when teams go from 90 to 53. There were 26 claims last year. This year? 27
Vested Veterans (3 accrued seasons) don’t have to clear waivers, so it’s not as simple as there’s 98% chance they’ll boomerang, but the other BIG factor is Week 1 roster guarantees the base salary for the entire year.
You aren’t going to take a chance on someone who looks promising but might not be an immediate contributor. You’ve probably got a couple ongoing projects with your own Day 2 and Day 3 draft picks, have to be judicious about putting in a waiver claims. It better be someone who can fill a need right now, otherwise just focus on building the practice squad.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Brad traded with Jax to get TeSlaa, then traded Patrick back to Jax - time is a flat circle.
Signed him for $2.5M, half up front, and cut his cap hit by 50% in return for a 6th round pick. Will replace him with a kid 8 years younger who is faster and loves to block.
That is some good GMing.
Signed him for $2.5M, half up front, and cut his cap hit by 50% in return for a 6th round pick. Will replace him with a kid 8 years younger who is faster and loves to block.
That is some good GMing.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Skip is back! $800K pay cut, ouch.
Here are your practice squad signings.
DL Myles Adams
WR Ronnie Bell
OL Trystan Colon
DL Keith Cooper
DB Erick Hallett
TE Zach Horton
WR Tom Kennedy
WR Jackson Meeks
OL Mason Miller
OL Michael Niese
LB Anthony Pittman
RB Jacob Saylors
S Loren Strickland
OL Dan Skipper
EDGE Isaac Ukwu
Here are your practice squad signings.
DL Myles Adams
WR Ronnie Bell
OL Trystan Colon
DL Keith Cooper
DB Erick Hallett
TE Zach Horton
WR Tom Kennedy
WR Jackson Meeks
OL Mason Miller
OL Michael Niese
LB Anthony Pittman
RB Jacob Saylors
S Loren Strickland
OL Dan Skipper
EDGE Isaac Ukwu
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
15 signings.
Might want to find a QB3 to stash.
Might want to find a QB3 to stash.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
No Ian Kennelly
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Detroit Lions fill 15 practice squad spots with returning talent, including Jackson Meeks and Dan Skipper
Allen Park — The Detroit Lions announced the signing of 15 players to the team’s practice squad on Wednesday afternoon, leaving one spot still to be filled on the 16-man taxi squad.
Cooper’s 140 snaps were the third-most among Detroit defenders in the preseason. However, he struggled to have the same impact he did on the practice field, tallying just five tackles and one QB pressure, a hit on the passer in the finale against Houston.
Meeks was admittedly a no-show in the preseason finale. However, in the previous two exhibition games, he hauled in 10 passes for 171 yards and two scores.
The 6-foot-2, 218-pounder offers contested-catch ability, run blocking and special teams potential.
Niese didn't start a preseason game, but saw more than 100 snaps in the four contests, most of which came at center.
Pittman departed as a free agent last year, signing with Washington, but eventually ended back in Detroit to end the year. This offseason, he remained caged to third-team defensive reps behind primary backups Grant Stuard, Trevor Nowaske and Zach Cunningham. In 120 defensive snaps this preseason, Pittman logged 14 tackles, while adding another three on special teams. He also missed a team-high five tackles.
"I’ve said this before, I kind of like Saylors, and I mean that in a good way," Lions coach Dan Campbell said after the preseason finale. "There’s something about him. ...He’s pretty crafty, pretty nifty. He’s got detail to what he does – the runs, the landmarks, the check downs. There’s something there and we like him."
Strickland started the Hall of Fame Game and had 106 defensive snaps throughout the preseason, finishing second on the team with 16 tackles.
Skipper missed some time in camp with an ankle injury, but he still started three of the team’s preseason games, one at left tackle, two at right tackle.
In addition to his work at offensive tackle, Skipper has acted as a blocking tight end in jumbo packages, even catching a touchdown pass during the 2024 season.
On the downside, he offered minimal contributions on special teams, with most of his reps coming on the field-goal block unit.
DT Myles Adams
Poached off Seattle's practice squad last November, Adams re-signed with the Lions in March. The 6-foot-2, 299-pounder had a strong finish to training camp, while pacing the defense with a team-high 151 snaps during the preseason. In those four contests, he recorded five tackles and four quarterback pressures.WR Ronnie Bell
The former Michigan standout signed a futures deal with the Lions in late January. After a slow start to camp, the 2023 seventh-round pick settled into a groove, contributing five catches for 62 yards across the final three preseason games.OL Tystan Colon
A June signing after Frank Ragnow announced his retirement, the veteran Colon was pushing for the backup center job when he suffered an elbow injury in Detroit's second preseason game. All 42 of his preseason snaps came at center, including half in a start against Atlanta. The former Raven and Cardinal has started 15 games in his career, seeing playing time at all three interior spots.DL Keith Cooper
A camp darling after earning a job as a rookie tryout, Cooper showed inside/out versatility with run-stopping and pass-rushing ability, despite his lean-for-the-position, 280-pound frame.Cooper’s 140 snaps were the third-most among Detroit defenders in the preseason. However, he struggled to have the same impact he did on the practice field, tallying just five tackles and one QB pressure, a hit on the passer in the finale against Houston.
DB Erick Hallett
Believed to be in the mix for the final safety job, the Lions shifted Hallett to cornerback at the start of training camp. After spending most of last season on Detroit's practice squad, he impressed with his versatility this offseason, lining up all over the field during the preseason and making a number of plays. He recorded 16 tackles and three pass breakups.TE Zach Horton
An undrafted rookie out of Indiana, Horton got an extended look with starter Sam LaPorta missing some time and veteran Kenny Yeboah suffering a season-ending knee injury. Between offense and special teams, Horton saw 138 snaps in the preseason, with his in-line and backfield blocking being his top function on offense.WR Tom Kennedy
The former lacrosse player has been with the franchise since 2019, appearing in 24 games during that stretch, including four last season. He chipped in four receptions for 27 yards during the preseason this year.WR Jackson Meeks
Despite a pair of outstanding preseason performances, as well as a number of strong plays on the practice field, the Lions waived the undrafted rookie out of Syracuse.Meeks was admittedly a no-show in the preseason finale. However, in the previous two exhibition games, he hauled in 10 passes for 171 yards and two scores.
The 6-foot-2, 218-pounder offers contested-catch ability, run blocking and special teams potential.
OL Mason Miller
An undrafted rookie signing out of North Dakota State, Miller saw extensive work during the preseason, averaging 30 snaps in the four matchups. He played the first two games at right tackle and the final two at right guard.OL Michael Niese
Niese has been with the Lions since signing with the team's practice squad days before the start of the 2023 season. He made the roster as a backup center in 2024 and was active for all 17 games. However, he fell behind Kingsley Eguakun and Colon on the depth chart as camp progressed this offseason.Niese didn't start a preseason game, but saw more than 100 snaps in the four contests, most of which came at center.
LB Anthony Pittman
A longtime Lion, the Birmingham Groves and Wayne State product originally signed with the team in 2019 as an undrafted rookie. From 2021-23, he was one of Detroit’s top special teams performers, logging more than 1,000 snaps with those groups.Pittman departed as a free agent last year, signing with Washington, but eventually ended back in Detroit to end the year. This offseason, he remained caged to third-team defensive reps behind primary backups Grant Stuard, Trevor Nowaske and Zach Cunningham. In 120 defensive snaps this preseason, Pittman logged 14 tackles, while adding another three on special teams. He also missed a team-high five tackles.
RB Jacob Saylors
The UFL's leading rusher in the spring, Saylors joined the Lions mid-camp and shouldered the biggest backfield workload during the preseason, pacing the roster with 33 carries for 112 yards, while chipping in seven catches for another 52 yards."I’ve said this before, I kind of like Saylors, and I mean that in a good way," Lions coach Dan Campbell said after the preseason finale. "There’s something about him. ...He’s pretty crafty, pretty nifty. He’s got detail to what he does – the runs, the landmarks, the check downs. There’s something there and we like him."
S Loren Strickland
Strickland surprised everyone, going from a versatile rotational player at Ball State to making Detroit's initial 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie. He didn't stick all year, but still managed to appear in seven games, logging 78 snaps on special teams.Strickland started the Hall of Fame Game and had 106 defensive snaps throughout the preseason, finishing second on the team with 16 tackles.
OT Dan Skipper
The veteran offensive tackle has spent the majority of his career with the Lions, starting 11 games the past three seasons. He opened training camp serving as the left tackle with the first-team offense while Taylor Decker recovered from offseason shoulder surgery.Skipper missed some time in camp with an ankle injury, but he still started three of the team’s preseason games, one at left tackle, two at right tackle.
In addition to his work at offensive tackle, Skipper has acted as a blocking tight end in jumbo packages, even catching a touchdown pass during the 2024 season.
EDGE Isaac Ukwu
In his second season with the Lions after going undrafted out of Mississippi, Ukwu improved, but not enough to command a roster spot. Seeing 116 preseason snaps, he tallied five QB pressures, including a sack. He also had a second sack wiped out by a penalty away from the ball.On the downside, he offered minimal contributions on special teams, with most of his reps coming on the field-goal block unit.
rockaction
Footballguy
No Ian Kennelly
Wow. Must not have worked out. You know, somehow coming from a local workout to one of the best teams in the world is a bit of a piper as far as dreams go. Great to fill blog or paper space, but a tougher to thing to actuate. You hope that he and his 9.06 RAS go somewhere. Just read something where the Lions are playing for their window and they're not going to keep guys that can't help immediately, but that was about him getting waived and not so much the practice squad.
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BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Jared Goff comes in at #15 on the NFLN Top 100
Previous rankiings - 38th and 32nd when he was with the Rams, 66th and 48th in 2023 & 2024.
Previous rankiings - 38th and 32nd when he was with the Rams, 66th and 48th in 2023 & 2024.
Da Guru
Fair & Balanced
Every GM swings and misses on picks. Holmes has been right so much it is hard to bash a couple of mistakes. The Hooker pick at the time made sense as before injury he was projected to be a possible first round pick, and Goff was not extended yet.
Trading up to get Martin never made any sense as he was projected to be a 6-7th round pick, or possible FA signing after draft.
Not bad for a game manager.
