Tag: Derrick Deese Jr.

Lions sign two new TEs in a slew of roster moves

The Detroit Lions sign TE Darrell Daniels and TE Daniel Helm among several roster moves on Wednesday morning

It was a busy Wednesday morning in Allen Park for Detroit Lions training camp. The Lions announced several roster moves to begin the day before the morning’s practice session.

The team signed not one, but two new tight ends. Free agents Darrell Daniels and Daniel Helm have joined the team. Both are veterans with multiple years of NFL experience. Daniels was the primary blocking tight end for the Arizona Cardinals in 2020-2021 amongst his experience, while Helm has spent time playing with the Raiders and 49ers, primarily on special teams. Helm also stood out in the USFL.

The newcomers will try to fill the void of the Lions losing TE Shane Zylstra, who was waived/injured after suffering a nasty leg injury in Monday’s practice. The team also waived tight end Derrick Deese Jr.

In addition to the action at tight end, the Lions also moved cornerback Emmanuel Moseley to the active/physically unable to perform (PUP) list. Moseley has missed all of the training camp on the PUP list with a knee injury that is related to his ACL surgery last fall. Moseley’s move to the active PUP list means the Lions can keep him idled through the first six weeks of the season. Had he remained on the reserve/PUP list, he would have missed the entire 2023 season.

Hendon Hooker among 3 Lions placed on the NFI list to start camp

Rookie QB Hendon Hooker among 3 Lions placed on the NFI list to start training camp

The Detroit Lions made some procedural roster moves to start the 2023 training camp. Three players were placed on the non-football injury list.

The most notable player hitting the active NFI list is third-round rookie quarterback Hendon Hooker. He is still recovering from knee surgery that Hooker had at the end of his college career at Tennessee.

Hooker is joined by tight end Derrick Deese Jr. and defensive lineman Zach Morton. Deese was healthy enough to participate in the recent minicamp, so something came up between those OTAs in June and now.

The players are eligible to be activated from the list at any time during the offseason. The NFI list is for players dealing with injuries that occurred outside the NFL. Even though Hooker’s injury happened while playing football, he wasn’t yet in the NFL so it qualifies as a non-football injury instead of the physically unable to perform, or PUP list.

Lions minicamp notebook: Secondary shines on the first day

Lions minicamp 1st day notebook from Lions Wire’s Jeff Risdon on the secondary, Sam LaPorta, Jamo, OL rotation and more

Detroit Lions minicamp kicked off on a hazy Tuesday afternoon in Allen Park at the team’s training facility. Unlike the OTAs the last two weeks, this week’s minicamp has mandatory attendance for all players.

Not every player participated. Head coach Dan Campbell indicated before practice that many players were medically excused, including running back David Montgomery and linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez among many others. The practice session remains unpadded and non-contact beyond flag football standards, but the Lions continue to be cautious with players on the injury front.

[lawrence-related id=92265]

Here’s what I saw and noted from the first minicamp session.

Lions sign TE Derrick Deese Jr. to reserve/future contract

Deese Jr. was on the Lions initial practice squad as an undrafted rookie from San Jose State

The Detroit Lions have brought back another member of the 2022 undrafted rookie class. Tight end Derrick Deese Jr. agreed to a reserve/future contract with the Lions on Wednesday.

Deese spent the 2022 offseason with the Lions after signing as an undrafted free agent out of San Jose State. He was on Detroit’s initial practice squad but was released early in the season.

He joins 10 other Lions who finished on the team’s practice squad and signed reserve/future contracts earlier this week.

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

Lions release rookie TE Derrick Deese from the practice squad

The Lions have released undrafted rookie TE Derrick Deese from the practice squad

The Detroit Lions made a move on the practice squad on a day when the players were off from practice. On Tuesday, the team announced it has released rookie tight end Derrick Deese from the practice squad.

Deese is an undrafted rookie from San Jose State. He was part of the team’s final roster cutdown and immediately signed to the practice squad last week during the initial formation. Deese was at his best in training camp and preseason games on special teams.

Detroit now has an opening on the 16-man practice squad. No immediate replacement for Deese has been signed as of press time. The Lions return to the practice field on Wednesday to get ready for the Week 1 visit from the Philadelphia Eagles.

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

Presenting the Detroit Lions initial 2022 practice squad

The following players have been confirmed to sign on as the initial members of the Detroit Lions’ practice squad for the 2022 season.

The following players have been confirmed to sign on as the initial members of the Detroit Lions’ practice squad for the 2022 season.

Like all NFL teams, the Lions can carry up to 16 players on the practice squad. Up to four can be protected each week from signing to the active roster of another, though that protection does not go into effect until Tuesdays. Detroit signed 13 players who were with the team in the offseason to the initial practice squad.

A player can be promoted from the practice squad to the active roster on game days up to three times per season. After that, they must be signed to the active roster.

Predicting the 1st roster cutdown for the Lions

All NFL teams have to cut to 85 players by Tuesday afternoon, but the Lions might not have to make any moves at all

All NFL teams have to cut down from 90 players to a maximum of 85 before Tuesday, August 16th at 4 p.m. ET. For the Detroit Lions, the impending cutdown could be anticlimactic.

The Lions currently have five players who are on either the physically unable to perform (PUP) or non-football injury (NFI) lists. Those players count against the 90-man roster even though they’re not actively cleared to practice or play.

The quintet:

  • WR Jameson Williams (NFI)
  • FB Jason Cabinda (PUP)
  • CB Jerry Jacobs (PUP)
  • DE Romeo Okwara (PUP)
  • DL Josh Paschal (PUP)

The Lions don’t have to make any decision on those five players until August 23rd. That’s the day when rosters must be trimmed down to 80 from 85, and it’s also the point where something needs to happen to players on the PUP or NFI.

From the league’s handbook for 2022:

Simultaneously with the roster reduction to 80 players, clubs that have players in the categories of Active/Physically Unable to Perform or Active/Non-Football Injury or Illness may select one of the following options: place player on Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform or Reserve/Non-Football Injury or Illness, whichever is applicable; terminate or request waivers with the designation of Failed Physical or Non- Football Injury or Illness, whichever is applicable; request waivers; terminate contract; trade contract; or continue to count the player on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform or Active/Non-Football Injury or Illness List.

In short, the Lions won’t have to cut anyone by Tuesday afternoon if they don’t want to. Not releasing anyone would be a good sign that none of the five listed players are going to play in the second preseason game in Indianapolis.

However, the Lions do have some walking wounded players who are not on the lists. If players like DT Levi Onwuzurike, WR Quintez Cephus, S Ifeatu Melifonwu and WR Josh Johnson — all missed every practice last week as well as the Falcons game — aren’t apt to be ready for the week in Indianapolis, the Lions could choose to make a move for depth purposes. Johnson, an undrafted rookie from Tulsa, is the only player here who is in any immediate roster jeopardy.

Should the Lions opt to trim someone off the active roster, my top five candidates in order: TE Nolan Givan, OL Logan Stenberg, OT Obinna Eze, TE Derrick Deese Jr. and Johnson. I don’t see head coach Dan Campbell ending the kicking competition just yet.

[lawrence-related id=79621]

Lions vs. Falcons: Snap count notes and observations

Lions vs. Falcons: Snap count notes and observations from Detroit’s preseason game

Tabulating snap counts in preseason games is a full-time job for the spotters, with so many players getting action on both plays from scrimmage as well as special teams. The Detroit Lions used 76 different players in Friday night’s preseason opener against the Atlanta Falcons.

There were a select few healthy Lions who did not participate in the exhibition: TE T.J. Hockenson, LB Alex Anzalone, S C.J. Moore and rookie TE James Mitchell. All the other players who sat out were idled in practice with minor injuries or remain on the PUP or NFI lists.

Tom Kennedy led all Lions offensive players with 43 snaps. He saw 12 passing targets, making the most of his time with QB David Blough, who played 42 snaps. The reserve offensive linemen dominated the rest of the top snap counts; Kendall Lamm played 42 while Dan Skipper, Evan Brown, Tommy Kraemer and Logan Stenberg all hit 40.

The starters on offense played the opening drive, 10 total plays. D’Andre Swift saw six reps at RB while Jamaal Williams had four.

In the crowd competing for tight end spots behind Hockenson, Brock Wright dominated with 29 snaps. Wright was followed by:

  • Devin Funchess – 21
  • Shane Zylstra – 18
  • Derrick Deese Jr. – 18
  • Nolan Givan – 14
  • Garrett Griffin – 13

It will be extremely interesting to see where those reps fall in the next preseason matchup, presumably with Mitchell entering the mix as he gets healthier from the leg injury he suffered last year at Virginia Tech. Note that Zylstra played the most special teams reps of the group (11) while Deese did not appear on special teams.

Defense

As with the offense, the defensive starters appeared on just one drive and 13 total plays. Cornerback Will Harris played just seven after leaving early with a hand injury. That forced Jeff Okudah onto the field for an extra few plays. Okudah logged 18, the same quantity as CB Bobby Price and one behind Saivion Smith.

Starting LBs Derrick Barnes and Malcolm Rodriguez played beyond the first drive. Rodriguez (21 snaps) and Barnes (19) split reps with Anthony Pittman (22), Chris Board (21), Shaun Dion Hamilton (19) and Josh Woods (14).

Jarrad Davis played primarily at off-ball LB in his 26 reps but also worked in some SAM reps, a pass-rushing role in this defense.

The most reps went to rookie safety Kerby Joseph and running mate JuJu Hughes, who each played 43 snaps. Reserve DT Bruce Hector (34) was the only other defender to top 30 reps.

Rookie CB Chase Lucas was on the field for just seven snaps. Mark Gilbert led all Lions defenders with 16 special teams reps to pair with his 22 plays on D.

[lawrence-related id=79609]

Lions UDFA watch: Assessing the undrafted rookies entering the 1st preseason game

Detroit Lions UDFA watch: Assessing the undrafted rookies entering the 1st preseason game

One of the more interesting facets of the first preseason game is seeing the rookies in action against another team for the first time. For the undrafted rookies in Detroit, most fans have no real exposure to what they’re doing in camp or what skills they might offer.

Here’s a primer on the Lions undrafted rookie class and how they’re faring entering Friday night’s preseason opener against the Atlanta Falcons.

Note that the list here has been pared down with the recent retirements of WR Corey Sutton and OL Zein Obeid.

Lions training camp notebook: Day 3 notes and observations

Notes from Day 3 of Detroit Lions training camp on red zone offense, backup TEs rising up, 2-minute drill blues and more

Day 3 of Detroit Lions training camp is now in the books.

Friday saw the arrival of Lions’ friends and family in the stands, the first day where anyone besides Lions employees and media was present at camp. Alas, pads will not come on for the players until Monday, but we still got to glean quite a bit from the sun-soaked morning session.

Here’s what I saw, heard and noted in Friday’s practice in Allen Park.

Top observations from the first day of Detroit Lions training camp

Lions training camp notebook: Day 2 top observations