Tag: Detroit Lions roster moves

Lions sign free agent kicker Zane Gonzalez

Lions sign free agent kicker Zane Gonzalez and waive PK Matthew Wright

The Detroit Lions have added some needed competition for Randy Bullock at placekicker. The Lions have signed veteran kicker Zane Gonzalez, per his agent Mike McCartney.

In a corresponding move, the Lions waived kicker Matthew Wright just hours after he badly missed on a field goal in Tuesday’s practice.

Gonzalez spent the last two seasons as the primary kicker for the Arizona Cardinals. He did not have a good 2020 season, converting just 72 percent of his field goal attempts. Gonzalez also kicked for the Cleveland Browns as that team’s seventh-round draft pick in the 2017 NFL draft out of Arizona. He has recently tried out with the Titans.

Bullock, signed as a free agent this offseason, has also had some issues on field goals throughout camp. Gonzalez offers a bigger leg with longer range, though his accuracy has been iffy throughout his career.

Lions to sign veteran CB Nickell Robey-Coleman

Robey-Coleman played under Lions DBs coach Aubrey Pleasant with the Rams

The Detroit Lions are adding cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman to the roster after the veteran visited the team on Monday. Ian Rapoport from the NFL Network was the first to report the signing, which has been confirmed by local sources in Detroit.

Robey-Coleman has played almost exclusively in the slot in his eight-year NFL career. He spent 2020 with the Philadelphia Eagles, starting seven of 15 games and notching 44 total tackles and one PD. He has also played for the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams, where he worked under Lions GM Brad Holmes and DB coach Aubrey Pleasant.

The Lions are looking for help at slot corner. Free agent signee Corn Elder has not had a great camp, and veteran Mike Ford has been hit-and-miss. Undrafted rookie A.J. Parker has taken some first-team reps of late in the slot as well.

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Lions sign two new defensive tackles, place Nick Williams on reserve/COVID-19 list

One of the newcomers is P.J. Johnson, who was originally a 7th-round pick by Detroit in 2019

The personnel shuffle along the Detroit Lions defensive line continues in earnest. The Lions added two new players to the mix on Saturday and also placed defensive tackle Nick Williams on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

The Lions signed tackles Michael Barnett and P.J. Johnson. Fans should recognize Johnson’s name from his prior stint in Detroit. He was a seventh-round pick in 2019 out of Arizona but failed to make the team as a rookie. He’s bounced around several practice squads and rosters since, most recently the Carolina Panthers.

Barnett is in his second season but did not play in 2020. He was originally an undrafted rookie free agent out of Georgia for the New England Patriots.

The Lions have had some health issues on the defensive front prior to Williams’ trip to the reserve/COVID-19 list. Second-round rookie Levi Onwuzurike has only been a full participant in practice once. Veteran Michael Brockers has taken few reps in team drills throughout camp, and nose tackle John Penisini is battling an injury that kept him out on Friday and Saturday. The Lions have added Bruce Hector and Miles Brown in recent days and released Reggie Gilbert, too.

Lions sign free agent DT Miles Brown

Brown is a nose tackle who played for the Cardinals in 2019

The Detroit Lions have added more bulk to the defensive line. The Lions signed free agent defensive tackle Miles Brown to the 90-man roster prior to Friday morning’s training camp practice session.

Brown, 23, is entering his third NFL season. He spent last season on the practice squad with both the Cardinals and Titans. Brown played just over 100 snaps for Arizona as an undrafted rookie out of Wofford in 2019.

The Lions have John Penisini and Alim McNeill at nose tackle already, and recently added DL depth with Bruce Hector. Brown can help absorb some of the practice reps and preseason snaps in his audition with the team.

Lions release OLB Reggie Gilbert

Gilbert was signed in June but did not make it through the second week of Lions training camp

The Detroit Lions made a roster move after Wednesday’s practice session. The Lions have released outside linebacker Reggie Gilbert.

Gilbert signed with Detroit as a free agent prior to the June minicamp. The 28-year-old was hoping to catch on with his fifth NFL team, but he didn’t even make it through the second full week of training camp. Gilbert was not at practice on Tuesday and no explanation was given.

There is now just one No. 45 jersey in camp, belonging to fullback Jason Cabinda. Gilbert spent 2020 on the practice squad with both the Jaguars and Cardinals and has played with the Packers and Titans prior to that.

Gilbert’s release leaves one open spot on the 90-man roster.

Lions sign OL Evan Boehm, activate OL Evan Heim for Monday’s practice

The Lions added a pair of Evan’s to the offensive line mix on Monday

The Detroit Lions have gained two offensive linemen for the second week of training camp. Head coach Dan Campbell began his Monday press conference prior to practice by announcing that the team has signed free agent lineman Evan Boehm, who visited with the team late last week. The Lions also activated Evan Heim from the non-football injury list.

Boehm is a veteran who can play guard or center. He’s started 21 games over five NFL seasons, most recently with the Miami Dolphins in 2019.

Heim signed with the Lions as a rookie free agent earlier this offseason. He played both left and right tackle in college at Minnesota State-Mankato, though he projects as a guard in the NFL.

The Lions sign free agent safety Alijah Holder after tryout

Holder spent the last two seasons with the Denver Broncos

At least one of the players who participated in the Detroit Lions rookie minicamp on a tryout basis has earned a contract with the team. Per his agent, David Canter, the Lions have signed free agent safety Alijah Holder.

The third-year pro was one of five players working out with the Lions during rookie minicamp on tryouts. Holder played for the Denver Broncos in 2020, appearing in eight games while alternating between the active roster and practice squad. He’s played primarily on special teams in his two NFL seasons, both with the Broncos. The 6-2, 188-pounder played 43 reps on defense and 177 on special teams in 2020.

Holder entered the NFL after the 2019 draft as an undrafted free agent from Stanford. He was waived by the Broncos in February.

Lions sign TE Darren Fells after Josh Hill retires

Fells played for the Lions in 2017 and thrived with the Texans the last two seasons

The Detroit Lions have signed veteran tight end Darren Fells after holding a free agent visit with the former Lion.

Fells returns to Detroit, where he played in the 2017 season. The move took on some urgency when projected No. 2 tight end Josh Hill unexpectedly revealed he was retiring this week.

The 35-year-old Fells played well in his one season in Detroit, primarily serving as an in-line blocking tight end. A former college basketball player, Fells emerged as a great red zone threat as well in the last two seasons with the Houston Texans. He caught 11 touchdown passes in 2019-2020 for Houston.

Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press was the first to break the news of Fells’ signing with the Lions.

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Lions cut TE Hunter Bryant with non-football injury designation

Lions cut TE Hunter Bryant with non-football injury designation

With the 2021 NFL draft less than a day away, the Detroit Lions opened up another roster spot. The team released tight end Hunter Bryant on Wednesday.

Bryant was released with a non-football injury designation, per the NFL’s transaction wire.

He joined the team as an undrafted free agent from Washington after last year’s draft. In five games, Bryant caught one pass for 44 yards.

Cutting Bryant leaves the Lions with just two tight ends with NFL experience on the 90-man roster entering the draft, T.J. Hockenson and Josh Hill. The team also has Alize Mack and Hunter Thedford at tight end.

Lions agree to terms with CB Quinton Dunbar

Dunbar comes to the Lions from the Seahawks

The Detroit Lions are adding free agent cornerback Quinton Dunbar to the roster. Mike Garafolo of NFL.com first reported the signing as related to him by Dunbar’s agent at Elite Loyalty Sports.

Dunbar visited with the Lions on Monday and didn’t leave without signing with the team. He had another free agent visit scheduled with the Arizona Cardinals, but he won’t need to make the trip to Phoenix.

The 28-year-old Dunbar played for the Seattle Seahawks in 2020 after spending his first five seasons with the Washington Football Team. He has 180 tackles and 10 interceptions in 64 career games. His 2020 season ended after just six games due to knee surgery.

Terms of the deal have yet to be disclosed.