Tag: Chase Lucas

Former Lions CB Chase Lucas signs with the 49ers

Former Detroit Lions CB Chase Lucas signs with the San Francisco 49ers in hopes of carving out a role with the NFC rival.

In the early stages of free agency, the Detroit Lions opted not to tender Chase Lucas, though there remained mutual interest in his return. However, despite interest from multiple teams including the Las Vegas Raiders, Cleveland Browns, and New York Giants, Lucas ultimately joined the San Francisco 49ers.

While Lucas didn’t see defensive snaps for the Lions last season despite their secondary facing numerous injuries, he excelled as a special teams gunner. With the 49ers, he aims to compete for a similar role, whether it be as a nickel defender or a key contributor on special teams.

This move underscores the Lions’ scouting prowess, as it’s uncommon for a seventh-round pick to earn a second contract. The fact that other teams are seeking players from Detroit speaks volumes about the talent the Lions have developed. As Lucas embarks on a new chapter with the 49ers, it signals a change of scenery with hopes of finding his niche within their team structure.

Lions will not tender a free agent offer to cornerback Chase Lucas

The Detroit Lions will not tender an offer to exclusive rights free agent cornerback Chase Lucas

The Chase Lucas era is over for the Detroit Lions. The Lions will not extend the exclusive rights free agent the required tender offer to retain his rights, per Lucas’ agent.

Lucas is an exclusive rights free agent, or ERFA. The cornerback was a seventh-round pick out of Arizona State in 2022, the second draft class under GM Brad Holmes. He played exclusively on special teams in 2023 and saw just six defensive reps as a rookie. The Lions had previously waived Lucas in December but brought him back to the practice squad in the postseason.

He was re-signed to the active roster for the NFC Championship game, where he made a costly gaffe. Lucas failed to down a perfect punt by Jack Fox and instead gifted the 49ers a touchback.

It’s a pretty straightforward negotiation for ERFA players. If the team offers an ERFA the league minimum contract for their experience level, that’s their contract for the upcoming season. If the team doesn’t choose to offer a league minimum, one-year contract, the player instead becomes an unrestricted free agent.

Thusly, Lucas will be free to sign with any team. The Lions will get no return compensation.

Lions injury update: Sam LaPorta upgrades, Chase Lucas sits out

Sam LaPorta upgrades, Chase Lucas sits out of Thursday’s practice ahead of the NFC Championship game

The Detroit Lions practice participation report from Thursday’s session in Allen Park had a couple of notable changes from the Wednesday edition.

Good news first!

Tight end Sam LaPorta upgraded from out on Wednesday to being a limited participant on Thursday. The All-Pro is still dealing with the knee injury he suffered in Week 18. LaPorta has played in both playoff games and is expected to do so again, barring any setbacks.

Now for the negative…

Special teams standout Chase Lucas sat out with an undisclosed illness. Lucas has been fantastic as the gunner on special teams since returning to the Lions after being cut during the season.

Frank Ragnow, Jonah Jackson and Kalif Raymond all remained out. Ragnow is the only one of that trio who projects to be available to play in San Francisco on Sunday.

Linebacker Alex Anzalone and wideout Josh Reynolds were limited for the second day in a row. Anzalone has been playing through broken ribs. Reynolds is also dealing with a rib injury.

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Lions re-sign two from the practice squad in playoff roster moves

Lions re-sign two from the practice squad, place two others on I.R. in playoff roster moves

The day before a Detroit Lions game is always full of some roster tweaking. That’s true with the Lions in the postseason too.

A day ahead of Detroit’s first-ever playoff game in Ford Field, the Lions made some moves to handle some injury situations on the active roster.

Two players were placed on injured reserve, as expected. Cornerback Jerry Jacobs and tight end James Mitchell were both already ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams with injuries.

The Lions signed two players from the practice squad to replace them on the 53-man active roster. Both CB Chase Lucas and TE Anthony Firkser had been on the Lions’ active roster earlier in the season but had been waived and then added back to the practice squad.

Detroit also elevated DT Tyson Alualu and fullback Jason Cabinda from the practice squad for the wild card game.

Lions sign TE Anthony Firkser, elevate defensive vets for Week 17

Lions sign TE Anthony Firkser, elevate defensive vets Bruce Irvin and Tyson Alualu for Week 17

The Detroit Lions filled their vacancy on the 53-man roster by signing tight end Anthony Firkser from the practice squad. The move comes in advance of Saturday night’s game in Dallas against the Cowboys.

The move was necessitated by tight end Brock Wright being out with a hip injury. Firsker played two offensive snaps in Week 16 as a practice squad elevation. The six-year vet was added to the Lions practice squad earlier this season.

Detroit also elevated two veteran defensive players for the game in Dallas. EDGE Bruce Irvin and DT Tyson Alualu will be up on the active roster for the game. It’s Irvin’s third and final practice squad elevation and the first for Alualu.

Also, the Lions confirmed that CB Chase Lucas is back on the team’s practice squad after going unclaimed on waivers.

Lions activate FB Jason Cabinda, waive two defenders

Lions activate FB Jason Cabinda from I.R. and waive two defenders ahead of Week 17

Jason Cabinda is back on the Detroit Lion’s active roster. The team formally activated the veteran fullback from injured reserve on Thursday.

Cabinda has not played since getting injured in Week 3. He was designated to return from I.R. last week and will play against the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday night. Fellow I.R. returnee designation C.J. Gardner-Johnson remains out for another week.

To make room for Cabinda, the Lions waived two young defensive players. Cornerback Chase Lucas and rookie linebacker Trevor Nowaske were each waived and are subject to waiver claims. If they clear waivers, the Lions can add them back to the practice squad.

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The second opening figures to go to kicker Michael Badgley, who is still on the practice squad. Badgley has already utilized two of his maximum three roster elevations, and the team has not worked out any kickers since making Badgley the starter in Week 15. The Lions will announce the practice squad elevations for the week prior to Saturday night’s game in Dallas.

Report: Lions waiving CB Chase Lucas

Lucas has played 6 snaps on defense in two seasons in Detroit

When a player comes back from injured reserve, it unfortunately means another player will need to be waived to make room. While we don’t yet know which player the Lions are activating from I.R., we do know who will be the victim of the requisite roster shuffling.

Per a report from Mike Garafolo that has been widely validated, the Lions are waiving CB Chase Lucas. The second-year cornerback has played exclusively on special teams in 2023 and saw just six defensive snaps as a seventh-round rookie in 2022.

Lucas was one of the obvious candidates for the Lions to cut to make room for returning players like C.J. Gardner-Johnson or Jason Cabinda. Both are eligible to be activated at any time.

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.

Lions players reveal they’re really bad about answering texts

Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jerry Jacobs and several other Lions players have thousands of unread texts on their phones

We’ve all been there. You get a text message that you’re not interested in, or just can’t answer in thr moment. It gets back-burnered and sometimes forgotten.

It happens. It also happens to happen a great deal more if you’re a Detroit Lions player. Several Lions players revealed they’re inattentive on keeping up with messages or just downright ignore them all.

Thanks to the Lions media team, we learned that it’s pretty endemic in the locker room to ignore texts.

As Chade Lucas said in the clip, the best way to communicate with the players is old-fashionded calling.

Lions sign CB Chase Lucas to the active roster in series of roster moves

Lions sign CB Chase Lucas to the active roster in series of roster moves that sends two Detroit players to I.R.

The Week 2 roster for the Detroit Lions saw some late changes this week. The Lions signed cornerback Chase Lucas from the practice squad to the active 53-man roster on Saturday.

Lucas, the Lions’ seventh-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft, will bolster the CB depth chart in advance of Sunday’s matchup with the Seattle Seahawks. With veteran Emmanuel Moseley already ruled out with hamstring and knee issues, the Lions also placed CB Khalil Dorsey (illness) on injured reserve.

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Dorsey primarily played on special teams, and that’s where Lucas can slide right in. The two battled in training camp and preseason, and Lucas didn’t lose the battle as much as Dorsey won it.

Detroit also placed DL Josh Paschal on injured reserve. Paschal was ruled out with a knee injury suffered in Thursday’s practice session. He will now miss at least the next four games, as will Dorsey.

On the offensive line, left tackle Taylor Decker has been downgraded from doubtful to out for Week 2 with an ankle injury. To help cover the line depth, the Lions elevated OL Kayode Awosika from the practice squad for the game. Awosika is primarily a guard but has taken some reps at tackle during his one-plus yer in Detroit.