The roster cutdown deadline from 80 players to 53 is Tuesday afternoon, but that’s not the end of the team-building drama. Players who are cut by other teams and subject to waivers can be claimed, pushing someone who initially made the 53-man roster off or as an instant replacement for a player heading to injured reserve after cutdowns.
Lions coach Dan Campbell left no doubt that Detroit is looking to take advantage of its high waiver wire claim status to see if they can upgrade the roster after the first cutdowns. Detroit holds the No. 2 spot in the waiver claim process; the NFL uses the original draft order (before traded picks) as the waiver claim order through Week 4.
Campbell was asked if there were any specific position groups the Lions would look at on the waiver wire. He took the question and ran with it, offering up a much broader answer than anticipated.
“Honestly, I would say that everything is available,” Campbell confided. “Anywhere we feel like we can upgrade, since we’re No. 2 on the claim list, we’re looking.”
Coach Campbell continued,
“We’re looking anywhere. Shoot we’re looking at halfback, we’re looking at tight end, we’re looking at O-line, we’re looking at D-line. Anything that is available. If we feel like it truly will upgrade us, and it’s somebody that we feel like would fit our culture and what we’re about, then we’re open to anything.”
With at least two players, DT Levi Onwuzurike and S Ifeatu Melifonwu, who are candidates to make the Lions’ 53-man roster but then immediately flip to IR, it makes sense to use the waiver claim advantage.
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