Tag: Allen Robinson

4 Lions free agents who should not return in 2025

4 Lions free agents who should not return in 2025

The Detroit Lions fizzled out sooner than they wanted in the 2024-25 season, in large part because the roster was running on fumes by the time they reached the playoffs.

The defense missed upward of 20 players at a time toward the end of the regular season, putting more pressure on the bodies remaining on the field.

However, just because the roster struggled to stay healthy this season yet still saw a lot of success doesn’t mean they should necessarily run it back with the same guys.

There are a handful of contributors that the Lions would likely be better off moving on from in 2025.

Kindle Vildor

The much-maligned Kindle Vildor is probably the easiest Lions free agent to let go this offseason.

Vildor occupied the impossible space of being a fine special teams player who was thrust into extended time as a corner on a team with championship aspirations. Unfortunately, he did not excel in that role, ranking 115th of all qualifying cornerbacks in the league according to Pro Football Focus’s Player Grades.

There isn’t much of an argument to be made in Vildor’s favor. He’s just not worth signing.

Allen Robinson

Add another player to the “He’s still in the league?” radar.

Outside of devout Lions fans, it’s hard to imagine many people knowing Allen Robinson has actually seen the field on occasion this season. It’s possible Robinson is a good locker room guy or a nice practice player at this point in his career, but at age 31 without any recent tangible success, it wouldn’t hurt to let him walk and focus on the possibility of bringing back Tim Patrick who excelled in that third wide receiver role.

Emmanuel Moseley

I spent all season yelling to the skies, “Where is Emmanuel Moseley?”

Moseley was active for only two games all season after a fairly pedestrian 2023 compared to the success he saw in San Francisco before the Lions picked him up.

Despite being reportedly healthy for parts of the season and the rest of the defense falling around him, he still didn’t get into the game. He was recovering from a knee injury he sustained before the 2024-25 season, but at several points, he was said to be healthy and saw some snaps on special teams.

There may still be a future for Moseley in this league, but the Lions clearly needed corners who could consistently contribute this season and he wouldn’t necessarily be missed.

Ifeatu Melifonwu

Despite some key moments for the Lions over the last couple of seasons, Ifeatu Melifonwu is not ranked high on the list of free agents that the Lions need to focus on bringing back.

Melifonwu played in only four games this season due to injuries, a chronic issue for the safety. In those games he played at or below league average, including a dismal performance in the team’s loss to the Commanders.

Following a stellar 2023 season, 2024 did not do Iffy any favors, and the Lions could likely afford to focus on re-signing Carlton Davis and lean more on assembling elite pass rushers than investing long-term in a league-average player who doesn’t carry any specialization to the positions he plays.

Tyelr Warren breaks Penn State TE touchdown reception record

Tyler Warren set a new record for the most touchdown catches by a tight end.

Penn State tight end [autotag]Tyler Warren[/autotag] continued to make some history on Saturday afternoon in Beaver Stadium. With his touchdown catch from Drew Allar late in the second quarter, Warren set a new Penn State record for the most touchdown catches by a tight end.

[autotag]Pat Freiermuth[/autotag] was the former record holder for the most touchdown receptions during a Penn State career with 16. Warren is now up to 17 career touchdown catches. It is worth noting that Warren also has six career rushing touchdowns to go with his career stats.

Warren’s touchdown tied [autotag]Allen Robinson[/autotag] for eighth on the school’s all-time touchdown reception list. Warren will have an opportunity to move into the top-five of Penn State’s all-time touchdown receptions leaderboard.

The school record of 31 career touchdown receptions by [autotag]Bobby Engram[/autotag] won’t be touched, and [autotag]Kenny Jackson[/autotag] and [autotag]Jahan Dotson[/autotag] each should be out of reach with 25 touchdowns each. [autotag]Deon Butler[/autotag] is fourth on the school’s all-time list with 22 career touchdowns.

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Lions Monday medical report – post-week 11 injury updates

Lions Monday medical report – post-week 11 updates on injured Lions players including Carlton Davis, Alex Anzalone and more

Another week, another injury to a Lions front-7 player. This time it’s a forearm fracture to Alex Anzalone. Fortunately, this injury will allow him to return this year and probably stronger than ever as I explain in my feature article.

Pending concerns include Shane Zylstra’s neck and Allen Robinson’s possible concussion. Many other players went down during the Jaguars game but most of those injuries appear to be minor.

On Monday, Dan Campbell gave a pessimistic update on Ifeatu Melifonwu saying “something came up…. he won’t be ready for a while… this is a different injury”. This may be due to Melifonwu’s new finger injury last week.

Here is the list of what I saw in the Jaguars game along with suspected diagnoses:

Amik Robertson – 1q 10:00 left thigh contusion

At the end of the first drive, he appeared to be hit in the left thigh which may have caused a simple charley horse. I didn’t see anything with the ankles or knees. He limped off but returned the next nickel package which was during the 3rd drive. He played the rest of the game with no noticeable effects.

Amik’s dad confirms that he is just fine.

Jahmyr Gibbs – 1q 1:50 mild abdominal contusion

Gibbs landed on the ball which could have caused an abdominal contusion, rib cartilage injury, or just wind. He left after the play but returned the same drive and finished out the game.

Frank Ragnow – 2q 9:19 left elbow/forearm contusion

Ragnow took a helmet directly to his left elbow/forearm area and came up grimacing. He didn’t miss a play. He finished the game without any kind of elbow wrap or pad which is reassuring. Likely, he just had a mild contusion.

Alex Anzalone – 2q 2:36 left forearm fracture

See my full article for details. Anzalone should be back within 6-8 weeks with no long-term concerns.

Carlton Davis – left thumb fracture earlier in week

Davis didn’t play in the second half but this presumably was a precaution for the left thumb fracture he suffered in practice a few days ago. Dan Campbell stated on Monday that during the game “he didn’t feel quite right”, so this is something to monitor this week.

Here is the cast/splint he was playing with:

Za’Darius Smith – 2q 00:45 right torso/ribs contusion

Smith took an elbow to the right torso which could have caused a rib or abdomen injury. He was in visible pain on the ground for a while but only missed one play. Likely this is just a contusion with the worst case being a rib fracture.

Penei Sewell – 3q 1:12 torso strain

Video was obscured but he did get his torso crushed by Ragnow. Two plays later, Sewell landed hard on his torso which may have aggravated the initial issue. He didn’t miss a play and finished the game in good shape.

Allen Robinson – 4q 5:18 possible concussion

Robinson takes a hard blow to the head here and also bangs his head on the ground. He is slow getting up which is concerning for a concussion. He tried to stay in for the next play but was sent off for a concussion evaluation. Presumably he has passed the evaluation since there has been no news. Delayed symptoms are possible and we should know that by Wednesday.

Shane Zylstra – 4q 6:22 neck

Zylstra pulled himself out after this play and was officially listed as a neck injury. He did not return to the game. I reviewed all his plays in the 4th quarter and nothing jumped out. Neck injuries often don’t show much on video as we saw with Saivion Smith’s temporary paralysis in 2022. Hopefully, this is just a simple cervical muscle strain.

Lions add another veteran WR to the active roster

The Lions moved up Allen Robinson and also brought back a practice squad linebacker

The Detroit Lions have added another veteran wide receiver to the 53-man active roster. It’s a familiar name: Allen Robinson.

Fresh off his Lions debut, in which Robinson played exactly one snap against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 3 as a practice squad elevation, Robinson joins the main club in Detroit. The Lions had an opening already after placing EDGE Marcus Davenport and LB Derrick Barnes on injured reserve earlier this week. Robinson joins Tim Patrick in making the move from the practice squad to the Lions’ 53-man roster ahead of Monday night’s game in Detroit against the Seattle Seahawks.

The Lions filled the practice squad vacancy by bringing back linebacker Abraham Beauplan, who was with the team in the latter stages of training camp and the preseason.

Lions elevate two WRs from the practice squad for Week 3

Lions elevate WRs Tim Patrick and Allen Robinson from the practice squad for Week 3

The Detroit Lions receiving corps will look bigger in the team’s Week 3 match with the Arizona Cardinals. The Lions elevated two veteran wideouts with some size to the active roster from the practice squad.

Tim Patrick and Allen Robinson earned the elevations for the game in Arizona. It’s the second week in a row that Patrick will be elevated. He caught two passes for 12 yards in Detroit’s Week 2 loss to the Buccaneers.

Robinson will be making his Lions debut. The 31-year-old was added to the practice squad shortly after roster cutdowns.

They immediately become the two largest receivers on the Detroit offense. Robinson is listed at 210 pounds at 6-foot-2, while Patrick is 6-foot-4 and 212.

No other roster moves were made, meaning Tom Kennedy will not be active for the first time this season.

Dan Campbell says ‘all options are on the table’ for promoting a practice squad WR

Dan Campbell says ‘all options are on the table’ for promoting a practice squad WR like Tim Patrick, Donovan Peoples-Jones or Allen Robinson

In Sunday night’s overtime win against the Los Angeles Rams, only two Detroit Lions wide receivers even saw a single passing target. All-Pro Amon-Ra St. Brown caught three of his six targets, netting just 13 yards.

Jameson Williams erupted in compensation, scoring a touchdown and racking up a career-best 129 receiving yards on five catches and nine targets. But the lack of effective wideout play was stark when compared to the Rams getting good production from deeper reserves once Puka Nacua left the game with an injury, one that has landed him on the I.R.

Meanwhile, Detroit’s third and fourth wide receivers, Kalif Raymond and rookie Isaiah Williams, didn’t see a single pass.

The Lions do have some veteran options on the practice squad, and the call for the team to add one of them is growing louder with every passing radio show or podcast. Between Allen Robinson, Tim Patrick and Donovan Peoples-Jones, head coach Dan Campbell has three players who all have some NFL feathers in their caps at the ready.

Campbell was asked on Wednesday if Patrick, signed recently after being cut by the Broncos, was close to being activated, or if Peoples-Jones had an advantage from being with the Lions since the trading deadline last season.

“All of those guys are competing,” Campbell responded. “That’s why when you’re on the vet squad, every day you put in the work and our eyes are open. I told them all that last week, and so we’re paying close attention to him and Robinson as well.”

Campbell concluded the thought ambiguously.

“So, all options are on the table, and we’ll just take it as it comes.”

The Lions did make a roster move on Wednesday, but it was adding veteran DT Kyle Peko to the active roster. Barring an injury, it doesn’t appear that the wideout room in Detroit will change in Week 2 other than a potential practice squad promotion. In Week 1, that honor went to Tom Kennedy, who only played four offenses snaps and also didn’t see a target.

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Former Penn State QBs Sean Clifford and Trace McSorley among NFL cut day victims

A number of Penn State players were cut by NFL teams as rosters began reducing to 53-man rosters.

Tuesday brought on a tough day for so many football players around the NFL. That is the day when NFL teams began trimming their rosters down to the 53-man minimum, and a number of former Penn State players were among the players being cut into the free agent waters of the pros.

Two notable names being cut by their respective NFL franchises were former Penn State quarterbacks [autotag]Sean Clifford[/autotag] and [autotag]Trace McSorley[/autotag]. McSorely was a late addition to the Washington Commanders roster this summer, so his early exit was not particularly shocking to see. Clifford was a fifth-round draft pick of the Green Bay Packers last season. Unfortunately, Clifford’s performance this preseason didn’t help convince the Packers he was the best option to be the backup to franchise quarterback Jordan Love.

The Packers also cut former defensive back [autotag]Kalen King[/autotag], who was a seventh-round draft pick of Green Bay in the 2023 NFL draft.

In addition to cutting McSorley, the Commanders also cut former Penn State wide receiver [autotag]Mitchell Tinsley[/autotag]. It was just days ago the Commanders also traded former Nittany Lion Jahan Dotson to the Philadelphia Eagles. The Commanders also parted ways with former defensive back [autotag]Tariq Castro-Fields[/autotag].

Four other former Penn State receivers were also shown the door; [autotag]KJ Hamler[/autotag] and [autotag]Justin Shorter[/autotag] with the Buffalo Bills, [autotag]Allen Robinson[/autotag] with the New York Giants, and Dan Chisena with the Arizona Cardinals.

Linebacker [autotag]Curtis Jacobs[/autotag] was cut by the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. And former running back [autotag]Noah Cain[/autotag] was released by the Cincinnati Bengals.

You can see the full list of former Penn State players who have been cut by NFL teams in the social media posts from Sam Fremin, via X, below.

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Ben Skowronek, Allen Robinson among former Rams to get cut

Ben Skowronek and Allen Robinson are two former Rams who have already gotten cut ahead of Tuesday’s deadline

More than 1,000 players will either be cut, traded or placed on injury lists Tuesday as teams across the NFL trim their rosters down from the 90-man offseason limit to just 53 players for the start of the regular season. It’s a tough day for players around the league, particularly for those who won’t get a chance to stick around on a practice squad.

There are several former Rams players who have already been waived as part of final roster cuts, including wide receiver Ben Skowronek. He’s being cut by the Texans just three months after the Rams traded him to Houston in a swap of late-round picks.

Additionally, Tremayne Anchrum Jr. was released by the Saints, Brett Rypien was cut by the Bears and John Wolford was released by the Buccaneers on Monday. Allen Robinson was cut by the Giants on Tuesday, too.

It’s unlikely the Rams will have any interest in those players after parting ways with them in the last few years, but you never know with Sean McVay and Les Snead.

Anchrum could be one possibility with all the injuries the Rams have suffered along the offensive line, though even he is probably not returning, given the depth Los Angeles has developed up front this offseason.

Allen Robinson named a player the Giants should cut

With cutdown day looming, veteran WR Allen Robinson has been named a player the New York Giants should cut loose.

Early in May, the New York Giants added some veteran depth to their wide receiving corps when they inked Allen Robinson to a one-year deal. With Robinson joining a crowded group on the Giants roster, he would have to compete for a roster spot.

Robinson started all 17 games for the Pittsburgh Steelers last year but has done little to impress during the preseason, hauling in just two catches for 19 yards on four targets.

Robinson was named by Bleacher Report as the player the Giants should cut:

New York Giants: Allen Robinson II, WR

The question is the role. If the Giants believe a fifth wideout is necessary after Malik Nabers, Wan’Dale Robinson, Darius Slayton and Jalin Hyatt, they may prioritize Allen Robinson II. If they’re comfortable in a four-man rotation, the special teams factor does Robinson no favors when compared to Miles Boykin, Isaiah McKenzie or Gunner Olszewski.

Giants Wire recently named Robinson one of two wide receivers at risk of losing their job with a poor performance against the New York Jets. If it comes down to Isaiah Hodgins and himself, Hodgins likely has the upper hand given his time with the Giants over the last two years.

The Giants saw value in Ronbinson’s veteran presence and shortly after he signed, he said he had a few more years left in him. However, realistically, the Giants knew it was more of a flyer on what Robinson had left in the tank at 30 years old.

Given the unofficial depth chart released two weeks ago where Robinson saw seven wideouts ahead of him, he is far from a lock to make the roster. It will depend on how many receivers the Giants are going to keep.

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New York Giants sign former Penn State WR Allen Robinson

After one season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, former Nittany Lion Allen Robinson is returning to the NFC with the New York Giants.

The New York Giants may have let Saquon Barkley run away to a division rival this offseason, but the Giants are loading up on Penn State players on the roster going into the 2024 season. The latest free agent addition to the roster is former Penn State wide receiver [autotag]Allen Robinson[/autotag], who signed with the team this week.

Robinson will bring a veteran presence to the Giants, a franchise going through a bit of a rebuild. Robinson has 562 career receptions for 7,028 yards and 43 touchdowns in 127 career games, including 122 starts. He is coming off one season with the Pittsburgh Steelers and will be on his fourth team in the last four years, including one season with the Los Angeles Rams and the last of a four-year stint with the Chicago Bears. Robinson started his NFL career with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

“He’s been a productive player for a while,” Giants head coach Brian Daboll said in a press conference on Friday when asked about the addition of Robinson to the roster.

Robinson ended his career at Penn State with 177 receptions for 2,474 yards and 17 touchdowns. He was a two-time Big Ten receiver of the year and went on to be a second-round draft pick of the Jaguars following his All-American career with the Nittany Lions.

The Giants also used a draft pick in the 2024 NFL draft to select former Penn Stater tight end Theo Johnson.

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