Candidates for the Lions to cut to make room for players returning from injuries

When CJGJ, Alim McNeill, James Houston and others (potentially) return, the Lions will have to make some cuts to free up roster space and these players are the most vulnerable.

There are a few players who are poised to come back to the Detroit Lions in the coming couple of weeks after missing time with injuries.

It will be a real boost for the Lions to potentially get back players like Alim McNeill, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Jason Cabinda and James Houston. The process already started with the activation of rookie QB Hendon Hooker from the non-football injury list on Tuesday.

With the returns, it means some players currently on the active 53-man roster will need to be cut to make room. Kicker Riley Patterson was the first victim, as he was waived for Hooker to get activated. Michael Badgley is the new kicker, though he remains (for now) on the practice squad. That’s another roster spot that will eventually need to be freed up, too.

Who are the unfortunate likely candidates to be waived when guys like McNeill and Gardner-Johnson return? Remember–all players are subject to waivers from now through the end of the season, so there has to be some strategy involved here.

Snap count notes from the Lions win over the Broncos

Lions snap count notes from the win over Denver, including DB and RB splits and an intact offensive line

One of the first things that jumps out from the Detroit Lions’ snap count notes in the Week 15 win over the Denver Broncos is the continuity of the starters. It’s especially true on offense.

The entire starting offensive line played each and every one of the 66 offensive snaps. It was the first time since the Week 10 win over the Chargers that the team’s top five — Taylor Decker, Jonah Jackson, Frank Ragnow, Graham Glasgow, Penei Sewell — started and finished a game together. And it showed on the field, with the Lions rolling to almost 200 rushing yards.

Those rushes came from David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs in an almost even split of snaps. Montgomery played 34, while Gibbs got 32. No other RBs played. The Lions also did not use a fullback, though Dan Skipper played eight snaps as an extra tackle and blocking tight end James Mitchell was on the field for six. Mitchell still doesn’t have a single passing game target in his second season.

The wide receiver splits:

Amon-Ra St. Brown – 61

Jameson Williams – 45

Josh Reynolds – 38

Kalif Raymond – 20

Donovan Peoples-Jones – 11

On defense, LB Alex Anzalone was the only Lions player on the field for all 64 defensive reps.

The starting lineup changes in the secondary were definitive. Safety Ifeatu Melifonwu got the nod over Tracy Walker for the second straight game, and Melifonwu played 62 of the 64 snaps. Walker didn’t play on defense. The same was true at cornerback, where Khalil Dorsey replaced Jerry Jacobs. Dorsey (44 snaps) and Kindle Vildor (18) split the outside CB duties, while Jacobs only appeared on special teams.

Aidan Hutchinson’s heavy workload continues. The standout DE played 59 of the 64 snaps, another week over 90 percent participation. Some of that could be a function of the Lions deploying John Cominsky (46) and Josh Paschal (43) with more reps inside as part of a lighter front. Hefty DTs Benito Jones (30), Isaiah Buggs (23), Levi Onwuzurike (14) and rookie Brodric Martin (11) split more reps than usual with the lighter linemen.

Romeo Okwara (18) and Bruce Irvin (11) saw limited action. The Lions used rookie LB Jack Campbell in the SAM role a little amongst his 33 snaps. Derrick Barnes briefly left the game with a shoulder injury, and that held down his snap count to 35. Jalen Reeves-Maybin played 10, while Malcolm Rodriguez returned to the defensive lineup with five. Anthony Pittman played on defense for the first time in 2023, seeing action on four snaps.

[lawrence-related id=100572]

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. 

Lions vs. Jaguars: Detroit roster bubble players to watch in the preseason matchup

With the starters sitting for Detroit, it’s a big chance for these Lions on the roster bubble to prove they belong on the team

The second preseason game for the 2023 Detroit Lions will go a long way in determining which players wind up comprising the back half of the team’s 53-man roster. With head coach Dan Campbell indicating that pretty much every important Lions player will sit out Saturday’s matchup with the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars, it’s showtime for the depth.

Position battles will dominate the conversation for the Lions against the Jaguars. Here are a few combatants who can help sort things out with their play against the visiting cats from Jacksonville.

[lawrence-related id=94464]

 

Lions vs Giants: Best and worst PFF grades from Detroit’s preseason win

Here are the standout performances from this week’s best and worst PFF performers for the Detroit Lions against the New York Giants.

The Detroit Lions kicked off their season with a 21-16 victory over the New York Giants in their first preseason game. Despite many of the team’s key players sitting out, the Lions’ management was able to evaluate potential roster candidates.

The game started off slowly, with the offense struggling, but the defense saved the day by repeatedly stepping up to the challenge and shutting down their opponents. Although some areas showed promise, others may require further evaluation by the Lions’ management.

Here are the standout performances from this week’s best and worst Pro Footbal Focus (PFF) performers, highlighting those who impressed and those who fell short in their bid for a coveted roster spot.

The Lions bring back 5 exclusive rights free agents including TE Brock Wright

The Lions bring back 5 exclusive rights free agents including TE Brock Wright

The Detroit Lions announced they have made the required contract tender offers to five exclusive rights free agents, including starting TE Brock Wright.

The quintet includes Wright, fellow TE Shane Zylstra, long snapper Scott Daly, DT Benito Jones and LB Anthony Pittman.

The move is more procedural than anything. Exclusive rights free agents, or ERFAs, are a cut-and-dry situation. If the team wants to keep them, they offer a 1-year deal worth the league minimum. If no such tender offer is made, the player becomes an unrestricted free agent.

The Lions had two other ERFAs, OG Tommy Kraemer and RB Craig Reynolds. Detroit re-signed Reynolds separately, which leaves Kraemer, who missed the 2022 season with a back injury.

One potential free agent for every position on the Lions offense

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbx8sj47vkwrznr player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

Lions tender an offer to LB Anthony Pittman

Lions tender an offer to restricted free agent LB Anthony Pittman

One of the keys to the Lions superlative special teams units in 2022 will be back for another season. Linebacker Anthony Pittman was offered the requisite tender contract and will return to Detroit.

Pittman was an exclusive rights free agent. He will earn the league minimum salary in 2023 on a one-year contract.

The 26-year-old from Wayne State played in all 17 games in each of the last two seasons. Pittman plays almost exclusively on special teams, where he has been an integral member of all punt and kick units.

[lawrence-related id=88765]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbx8sj47vkwrznr player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

Lions sign LB Anthony Pittman to active roster, place Tracy Walker on IR

Lions sign LB Anthony Pittman to the active roster and place Tracy Walker on IR

The Detroit Lions have signed linebacker Anthony Pittman to the active 53-man roster. Pittman was on the Lions’ practice squad for the first three weeks of the season but has been with the organization since 2019. The Wayne State product played in all 17 games for Detroit in 2021.

Pittman has been elevated from the practice squad in each of the last two weeks and has played extensively on special teams, as well as four defensive reps. Players are allowed to be elevated three times from the practice squad for active gamedays, so signing Pittman ends any concerns about that.

As expected, the Lions placed safety Tracy Walker on the injured reserve list. Walker tore his Achilles tendon in his left leg during Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings. He is out for the season.

Detroit also added WR Josh Johnson to the practice squad to fill Pittman’s spot. Johnson is an undrafted rookie from Tulsa who spent training camp and preseason with the Lions.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbx8sj47vkwrznr player_id=none image=https://lionswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Lions elevate Dan Skipper, Anthony Pittman for Week 3 vs. Vikings

The Lions elevate Dan Skipper and Anthony Pittman from the practice squad for Week 3 vs. Vikings

For the second week in a row, the Detroit Lions have elevated offensive lineman Dan Skipper and linebacker Anthony Pittman from the practice squad to the active gameday roster. Both Pittman and Skipper will be in uniform when the Lions visit the Minnesota Vikings in Week 3.

Skipper could be in line to start at left guard again after a successful debut in the Week 2 win over the Washington Commanders. Regular starting LG Jonah Jackson is out with a finger injury. Pittman played on special teams in the Week 2 win.

Teams are allowed to elevate a player from the practice squad to the active gameday roster up to three times before being forced to sign them to the active 53-man roster. This is the second promotion for both Pittman and Skipper.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbx8sj47vkwrznr player_id=none image=https://lionswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

[listicle id=81406]

Lions elevate Dan Skipper and Anthony Pittman from practice squad, downgrade LG Jonah Jackson

Skipper could be the insurance policy for Jackson at left guard if the Pro Bowler can’t play with his finger injury in Week 2

In a set of related roster moves on Saturday, the Detroit Lions elevated two players from the practice squad while delivering some unfortunate news on an injured player.

Practice squad linebacker Anthony Pittman and offensive lineman Dan Skipper were elevated for Week 2. It’s the second week in a row where Pittman has been elevated from the practice squad. He played extensively on special teams in Week 1.

Skipper is getting the promotion because of the downgraded injury status of starting left guard Jonah Jackson. The Pro Bowl LG is now listed as doubtful after being questionable on Friday’s injury report. Jackson has an injured finger.

Skipper has been a tackle throughout his career, but there’s a chance the Lions could install the 6-foot-10 veteran at guard in place of Jackson. He did get some looks inside during training camp and presents a more seasoned matchup than either Drew Forbes or Kayode Owusika, the other reserve guard options on the active roster.