Predicting the 22 remaining Detroit Lions roster cutdowns

The Detroit Lions have 75 players on the active roster as of noon Monday and have to be down to 53 by 4 p.m. Tuesday

It’s almost time for the Detroit Lions initial 53-man roster to be set for the 2023 regular season. The team has already trimmed several players from the 90-man preseason limit, but there are more cutdowns to be made.

As of 12 p.m. ET on Monday, the Lions have 75 players still on the active roster. That leaves 22 more players to be removed from the active roster before 4 p.m. on Tuesday.

Note that CB Emmanuel Moseley and QB Hendon Hooker are not currently on the active roster, so they don’t factor in. WR Jameson Williams begins serving his suspension after the cutdowns, so he’s not involved either. 

Video: Detroit Lions Podcast predicts the 53-man roster and more

Video: Detroit Lions Podcast predicts the 53-man roster and wraps up the preseason

A special weekend edition of the Detroit Lions Podcast is now available for streaming or download. This show, recorded live on Saturday, puts a bow on the Lions preseason and spins forward to the task of getting down to 53 players.

The first part of the show covers Friday night’s triumph in Carolina in the final exhibition game. Which players stood out and which ones faltered a little? There is also a discussion on the injuries from the game.

Then comes the 53-man roster projection. Position by position, who makes it and who does not? There is a focus on team constitution; the concept of keeping a sixth WR or a fifth RB and the ripple effects that would have at other positions, as an example.

5 hardest decisions to project from the Lions 53-man roster cutdown

Here are the five toughest cuts or decisions to project for the Lions final 53-man roster

The Lions held the final significant practices before Tuesday’s roster cutdown deadline this week. With Friday’s preseason finale in Charlotte against the Carolina Panthers the final chance to win or lose roster spots, the team is very close to finalizing the 53-man roster.

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There isn’t a ton of drama over the constitution of most of the roster. However, there are a few final spots up for grabs. They make for very difficult decisions for head coach Dan Campbell, GM Brad Holmes and the Lions braintrust.

Here are the five toughest cuts or decisions to project for the Lions’ final 53-man roster.

Updated 53-man roster projection after the Lions 2nd preseason game

With one preseason game left and a little over a week before roster cutdown day, here’s the current projection for how that initial 53-man roster will look for Detroit.

Roster cutdowns around the NFL come in just over a week. The Detroit Lions, like all NFL teams, will have to get down to an initial 53-man roster from the current 90. With just one roster cutdown this year, it builds the dram of who makes it and who does not.

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With one preseason game left and a little over a week before roster cutdown day, here’s the current projection for how that initial 53-man roster will look for Detroit.

Updated Lions 53-man roster projection after two weeks of training camp

Updated Detroit Lions 53-man roster projection after two weeks of training camp

Detroit Lions training camp will wrap the second week of action on Saturday. It’s a good point to recalibrate the depth chart and reevaluate the 53-man roster projection.

There are a few changes to the prediction after 10 days of practice. Injuries have caused some unfortunate shifts, as have on-field performances — positive and negative. There are some leanings here that reflect what I’ve seen and heard in training camp, too.

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Cowboys 53-man roster prediction as 2023 training camp opens

As training camp opens, here are our best predictions to what the initial 53-man roster will look like come end of August. Who are the veteran cuts? | From @KDDrummondNFL

The smell of real actual football activity is in the air as the Dallas Cowboys have arrived in Oxnard, CA. The annual trek west signals the start of training camp and Mike McCarthy has his work cut out for him to avoid this being the final year he’s with the organization. If this all sounds familiar, it’s because it’s exactly how we started last year’s roster prediction.

Now entering Year 4, McCarthy is now solely in charge of the offense, with former coordinator Kellen Moore off to Los Angeles. Maybe he’ll drive up the coast for a visit.

A disappointing 2020 was followed by a scintillating start to 2021, only for things to disintegrate down the stretch. Eventually, the Cowboys were the only home team to lose during wild-card weekend and the funk has been cast over the team ever since.

That can all change, starting Wednesday with the first practice. Over the next several weeks, leading to three preseason contests, players will work their way up and down depth charts in hopes of making the final 53-man roster. This is a prediction of how all those things will play out, with the obvious caveat that injuries will dictate some of these battles more than talent.

Projecting the Lions 53-man roster after Detroit’s minicamp

Projecting the Detroit Lions 53-man roster for 2023 after minicamp and OTAs

The offseason activities and minicamp have come to an end for the Detroit Lions. After the open practice sessions, it feels like we have a better grasp on the Lions roster and how it might shake out when the final cuts down from 90 to 53 may look.

Here’s my early stab at what the initial 53-man roster will look like after the final preseason game and the end of training camp.

Lions offensive depth chart projection after the 2023 NFL Draft

Lions offensive depth chart projection after the 2023 NFL Draft and Detroit’s new additions

With the 2023 NFL Draft in the rearview mirror, the Detroit Lions have a much clearer picture of what they could do this year. Despite the interesting choices, the Lions got better, not worst. From the choices made on offense to defense, the Lions could surprise more teams than expected.

Much of the team’s success will rest on this offensive group and the shoulders of quarterback Jared Goff. If Goff plays up to par, there’s no reason to believe that the Lions won’t make a push to the playoffs. Let’s jump into each position to predict what the Lions offense could look like during the 2023 season!

Final Detroit Lions 53-man roster projection

Projecting the initial 53-man roster for the Detroit Lions at the NFL roster cutdown deadline

Training camp and the preseason have come and gone. The Detroit Lions, like all other NFL teams, have until 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, August 30th to reduce the roster from the current 80 down to 53.

Sunday’s preseason loss in Pittsburgh impacted a couple of projections here, changes from the last set of predictions.

Note that this is a “what I think will happen” projection and not a “what I would do” scenario…

Breaking down our final Saints 53-man roster projection

Breaking down our final Saints 53-man roster and practice squad projection after training camp and the preseason finale, via @RossJacksonNOLA:

As the New Orleans Saints wrap up their preseason action, focus now turns to the final round of roster cuts. By 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Aug. 30 all teams across the league must trim their rosters down to 53 players. After which, more moves and changes will surely be made.

Wide receiver, linebacker, running back and, following a serious injury to rookie left tackle Trevor Penning, the offensive line all take center stage. But more storylines are worth watching as well, including the tough decision to be made around quarterback Ian Book who impressed in the preseason finale against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Some players, like Book, did themselves some favors Friday night furthering their case to make the roster. New Orleans will have some tricky decisions to make leading up to Tuesday’s deadline and more to follow. Here is a projection of what the initial 53-man roster may look like at each position, some possible impending transactions thereafter and a swing at the 16-man practice squad as well.