Tag: Detroit Lions roster moves

Lions add two linemen, place Netane Muti on I.R.

Lions add two linemen to the roster, one of them a former Detroit draft pick, and place Netane Muti on I.R.

The Detroit Lions have made a couple of additions to the training camp roster and placed another on injured reserve prior to Thursday’s practice session in Allen Park.

The Lions added offensive lineman Jake Burton and defensive lineman Pat O’Connor.

Burton is a tackle who has bounced around several training camps and practice squads since finishing his college career at UCLA in 2019. He played for the Michigan Panthers of the UFL as well. During his time with the Bruins, he played under current Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley.

O’Connor is a more familiar name for Lions fans. He was a seventh-round draft pick by Detroit back in the 2017 NFL Draft, though he failed to make the team as a rookie. Now 30, the Eastern Michigan product has spent the last several seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, bouncing between the practice squad and active roster.

The Lions also placed offensive lineman Netane Muti on injured reserve with a shoulder injury suffered in Tuesday’s practice.

Lions add veteran LB in series of roster moves

Lions add veteran LB Malik Jefferson in series of roster moves that also includes rookie Christian Mahogany

Even on a Saturday, the Detroit Lions were busy on the NFL’s transaction wire. The Lions added a veteran linebacker among a flurry of roster moves after the fourth training camp session.

The Lions added Malik Jefferson, a linebacker who played for the Dallas Cowboys in 2023. Detroit is Jefferson’s sixth team in as many NFL seasons since being selected in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. The 27-year-old Jefferson has played in 39 career games but appeared almost exclusively on special teams.

The Lions created room on the roster by placing kicker Michael Badgley on the injured reserve. Badgley tore a hamstring in Thursday’s practice and will miss the season.

Detroit also placed sixth-round rookie guard Christian Mahogany on the active/non-football illness list. Mahogany has yet to appear in training camp while dealing with an undisclosed illness. He is eligible to be activated at any time, but going on official list is a sign that Mahogany might be out a little while longer.

The Lions also waived offensive lineman Matt Farniok with an injury settlement. Farniok was previously waived during the week but now gets the designation of an injury settlement. His injury was not revealed by the team.

Lions waive veteran OL at the start of training camp

Lions waive veteran OL Matt Farniok at the start of training camp

In a series of moves relating to the Detroit Lions roster at the start of the team’s training camp, the Lions also made a roster change to the offensive line. Veteran lineman Matt Farniok was waived on Wednesday.

Farniok ended the 2023 season on the Lions practice squad and was signed to a future/reserve contract in the offseason. The 26-year-old had a brief stint with the Chicago Bears in 2023 before coming to Detroit, but is best known for his two seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. Farniok started two games for Dallas back in the 2022 season.

He was a longshot to stick on the Lions roster. Farniok became expendable when the Lions signed veteran Ike Boettger earlier this week.

Lions waive veteran cornerback with injury status

Lions waive veteran cornerback Craig James with injury status as OTAs near their end

The Lions made a roster move in advance of Tuesday’s OTA session in Allen Park. Detroit waived veteran cornerback Craig James with an injury designation.

James, 28, signed to the Lions practice squad last December after being released by the New York Jets. He played in two games for New York in 2023 but didn’t see a lot of action with the Jets. The Lions signed James to a future/reserve contract this offseason. He had been wearing No. 25.

James has been in the NFL since 2018, bouncing around several teams. His exact injury is not known, though James was not present for last week’s minicamp session that was open to the media.

Lions release CB Cameron Sutton after domestic violence charge

The Lions have released CB Cam Sutton as he remains at large from authorities in Florida

Cameron Sutton is no longer a member of the Detroit Lions. The team announced they have released the cornerback in the wake of troubling developments coming out of Florida.

Sutton remains wanted by Florida authorities on a domestic assault strangulation charge stemming from a March 7 incident.

Lions elevate 2 from practice squad but Zach Ertz isn’t one of them

Lions elevate 2 from practice squad for the NFC Championship game but Zach Ertz isn’t one of them

The Detroit Lions elevated two players up from the practice squad to the active roster for Sunday’s playoff matchup with the 49ers. However, former Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz is not one of them.

Ertz was signed during the week to the practice squad after the Lions lost TE Brock Wright to injury. However, Ertz wasn’t able to convince the coaching staff that he’s ready for playoff action. He’s been sidelined since October with a leg injury that led to his departure from the Cardinals.

The Lions elevated FB Jason Cabinda and OL Michael Schofield. Cabinda played last week in the win over Tampa Bay. Schofield provides depth with LG Jonah Jackson ruled out with a knee injury.

Lions place TE Brock Wright on injured reserve, add Zach Ertz to the practice squad

Lions place TE Brock Wright on injured reserve, add Zach Ertz to the practice squad

In an unfortunate turn of events, Brock Wright’s season is now over. The Lions placed the tight end on injured reserve on Wednesday with a broken forearm.

Wright had his brightest moment of the entire season in the win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a beautiful catch-and-run that set up a touchdown. Unfortunately, he broke his arm later in the game.

As expected, the team added veteran Zach Ertz to the practice squad to take Wright’s place. In addition to signing Ertz, the Lions signed veteran DT Tyson Alualu from the practice squad to the active roster. Alualu has been playing as a practice squad elevation.

Lions shake up the practice squad ahead of the NFC Championship

Lions shake up the practice squad ahead of the NFC Championship

The Lions players were off on Tuesday, but the team still wound up making a few changes to thr practice squad.

Detroit added two players to the practice squad. Offensive lineman Matt Farniok and running back Jake Funk are now among the practice squad members. Farniok spent a month on the Lions practice squad at the end of the regular season.

To make room for Funk and Farniok, the Lions placed RB Jermar Jefferson on the practice squad injured reserve list. The team also released OLB Raymond Johnson from his latest stint on the Detroit practice squad.

The Lions are adding TE Zach Ertz this week

The 33-year-old Ertz

Faced with the prospect of having only two healthy tight ends on the entire roster, the Detroit Lions are adding free agent Zach Ertz this week. Ertz will begin on Detroit’s practice squad, per Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network.

Ertz, 33, was waived from the Cardinals injured reserve at his request back in November. He suffered a quad injury in October and has not practiced or played since.

Ertz has a strong connection to the Lions. Current Lions TE coach Steve Heiden was his position coach with the Cardinals for nearly two seasons.

Brock Wright broke his forearm in Detroit’s 31-23 win over the Buccaneers on Sunday.

Lions re-sign Julian Okwara amongst practice squad moves

Okwara was waived when the Lions activated James Houston and comes back after going unclaimed on waivers

Julian Okwara never left Detroit after being waived on Thursday when the team activated James Houston to take his spot on the active roster. Okwara went unclaimed on the waiver wire, and now he’s back with the Lions.

The team re-signed Okwara to the practice squad on Saturday, a day ahead of the postseason matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Detroit also promoted two players from the practice squad to the active roster for Sunday afternoon’s game.

For the second week in a row, DT Tyson Alualu and FB Jason Cabinda have been elevated for the game. Both played in the win over the Rams as practice squad elevations.

There is no limit on elevations in the postseason.

Detroit didn’t announce any game status changes from Friday’s injury report, which is a positive development for TE Sam LaPorta and his questionable knee.