Tag: Dylan Drummond

Giants release Oshane Ximines from practice squad, sign WR Dylan Drummond

The New York Giants have released LB Oshane Ximines from their practice squad and signed WR Dylan Drummond to replace him.

The New York Giants made some minor changes to their practice squad on Thursday, releasing linebacker Oshane Ximines and signing wide receiver Dylan Drummond.

Ximines was a third-round pick (No. 95 overall) in 2019 out of Old Dominion, the first player in school history to be selected in the NFL draft.

The 6-foot-4, 254-pound Ximines played in 45 total games over his first four seasons with the Giants, amassing 67 total tackles (34 solo) with 6.5 sacks and nine tackles for a loss. He also had 22 quarterback hits, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and six passes defensed.

This season, Ximines appeared in just three games, recording four tackles (one solo) and two QB hits.

The 23-year-old Drummond signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted rookie out of Eastern Michigan back in May. He spent time on and off of their practice squad, appearing in just one game where he took five offensive snaps and three special teams snaps. He did not amass any stats.

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WR Dylan Drummond replaced by a different preseason phenom on the Lions practice squad

The Detroit Lions cut summer phenom WR Dylan Drummond from the practice squad to sign veteran Tom Kennedy, who once had the same summer buzz

Over the summer, Detroit Lions fans quickly learned the name Dylan Drummond. The undrafted rookie wide receiver from nearby Eastern Michigan was a training camp and preseason darling, a popular projection to stick on the initial 53-man roster.

Drummond did indeed parlay an impressive summer into a spot in Detroit, albeit on the Lions’ practice squad. And now he’s the latest in a line of recent preseason phenoms to fade away quickly after being replaced by one of his predecessors.

On Wednesday, the Lions signed veteran wideout Tom Kennedy to the practice squad and released Drummond to make room. Kennedy returned after being waived/injured over the summer, ironically a situation that presented Drummond with a bigger opportunity. A free agency visit early in the week convinced the Lions to sign Kennedy and let Drummond go.

The sticky-handed Drummond caught nine passes for 87 yards in the preseason. He showed the ability to get open quickly out of the slot, and Drummond also offered some return man potential — basically Kennedy’s role in Detroit for most of the last four seasons.

Alas, Drummond’s summer star lost some luster over the season. The Lions brought Kennedy back to effectively extinguish the once-bright light. Now Drummond goes the way of Kalil Pimpleton, Chris Lacy, Jace Billingsley, Travis Fulgham, Andrew Peacock and other wideouts who thrived in the summer but couldn’t make it in the autumn or winter, at least not with the Lions.

Kennedy remains one of the very few summer success stories who emerged as a viable NFL talent. Drummond could still find a path in the NFL, but it’s a big climb after being replaced by Kennedy. Drummond was buried as the No. 3 WR on the Detroit practice squad (behind Daurice Fountain and Maurice Alexander) as a smallish wideout with poor speed (4.62 40-yard dash) and lacking considerable collegiate accomplishment.

Detroit Lions practice squad tracker

The Lions are signing players to the practice squad to start the season. Here’s who has signed in Detroit.

With the 53-man active roster established, the Detroit Lions are now forming the 16-player practice squad for the start of the 2023 season.

All players who are not signed to another team are eligible for the practice squad, though there are limits on how many vested veterans can be on any practice squad.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell extolled the virtue and importance of the practice squad in his final press conference before the roster cutdowns.

“I understand it is, it’s a 53-man roster, but it’s really not. It’s a 60-man team. It’s a 69-man team is what it is, and that’s kind of how we view it. These guys are all on the same team. We all help each other out and every one of those guys, there’s a good chance they’re going to play for us,” Campbell said of the practice squad.

Knowing that context, here is who has signed with the Lions 16-man practice squad.

5 biggest surprises for the Lions 53-man initial roster

The Detroit Lions have released their initial 53-man roster and here are 5 of the biggest surprises stemming from the reveal.

The Detroit Lions have finally released their initial 53-man roster. There had been weeks of speculation on which players would make the cut and which ones would not. During the preseason games, many players put in impressive performances, especially given that the Lions rested their starters. This allowed the management to take a closer look at the players and determine who would be the best fit for the team.

Upon reviewing the final roster, there were a few surprises that caught my attention. Here are the five decisions that were the most unexpected to me with the initial roster release.

Chase Lucas, Dylan Drummond among latest Lions roster cutdowns

The Detroit Lions continue to make roster cuts ahead of the deadline, waiving Chase Lucas and Dylan Drummond in the latest round

With the roster cutdown deadline approaching on Tuesday, Lions GM Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell continue to make moves to get the active roster down to 53 players. The latest round of reported cuts on Monday includes a couple of players who many projected to make the final 53.

Among the notables reportedly waived on Monday are CB Chase Lucas and WR Dylan Drummond.

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Lucas played well in the preseason, but it wasn’t enough to save the second-year cornerback. Detroit’s seventh-round pick in 2022 out of Arizona State is expected to return on the practice squad.

The same is true of Drummond, an undrafted rookie from Eastern Michigan who was one of the team’s top receivers in the preseason with nine receptions. His route running and ability to make catches away from his body stood out for Drummond.

Detroit is also axing three offensive linemen, per Dave Birkett of the Free Press. Undrafted rookie tackles Connor Galvin and Ryan Swoboda are both being waived, as is guard Kayode Awosika. As Birkett notes, those moves will leave the Lions with just eight offensive linemen on the initial 53-man roster after also releasing vets Bobby Hart and Germain Ifedi earlier.

Detroit is also waiving undrafted rookie QB Adrian Martinez, who got scant playing time in the last couple of weeks of camp and preseason.

Those moves would leave the Lions with 69 players left, meaning 13 more need to be cleared by 4 p.m. on Wednesday. One of those will be injured QB Nate Sudfeld, though how exactly he’s handled remains up in the air.

Lions WR battle will be some closely watched roster cuts

The Detroit Lions have three wide receivers who are vying to make the team and they did make it easy for the Lions come roster cuts

The Detroit Lions finished their preseason on a high note by defeating the Carolina Panthers. However, their work is not done yet as they must decide on their final roster before facing off against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Lions have already made some roster moves to try and find new homes for their veterans before Tuesday’s deadline.

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One of the toughest decisions the Lions face is determining who will be the WR 5-6 for the team. Each player vying for the position has shown potential and could justify making the team. This decision is especially important with the Jameson Williams suspension leaving a gap in the wide receiver room. The Lions will choose between Antonie Green, Dylan Drummond, and Chase Cota.

Antonie Green, the Lions’ seventh-round draft pick, has steadily improved throughout training camp and preseason games. His 70-yard touchdown against the Panthers showcased his speed and size, making him a potential matchup nightmare. Green also contributed to special teams assignments, which could prove to be crucial in securing his spot on the roster.

Dylan Drummond has shown consistency throughout camp and games, proving himself to be a reliable weapon. He has played the least amount of special teams snaps out of the three receivers, but whenever the Lions needed a play, he was the go-to playmaker. Drummond finished the preseason strong with great catches, solidifying his spot as a dependable receiver.

Chase Cota has also made a case for himself with his standout performances in preseason games. He led the receiving group with 60 yards in the Lions’ first preseason game against the Giants and had a touchdown catch in the Jaguars game. However, he dropped some passes in the Panthers game, including a potential touchdown. Cota did play the most special teams snaps among the three receivers, but Kalif Raymond has secured that spot.

The battle for the fifth and sixth WR positions is a closely monitored one, with each receiver showing potential. Drummond is the top choice for his dependability, while the decision between Cota and Green is a tough one. Ultimately, Green’s improvement and tangible skills make him the preferred choice. However, Cota could still develop his skills on the practice squad. It will be interesting to see which direction the Lions go in making this decision.

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Studs and Duds for the Lions preseason win against the Panthers

With the preseason in the books, here are this week’s Studs and Duds for the Detroit Lions preseason victory over the Carolina Panthers

The Detroit Lions have wrapped up their preseason with a 26-17 victory over the Carolina Panthers. As most of the Lions’ top players sat out, the coaches and management had the opportunity to closely observe the players who are on the brink of making the final roster. It will be intriguing to see which players the Lions choose, as many of them performed exceptionally well, making the decisions more difficult. Unfortunately, some players did not perform at their best and may have fallen behind in the roster selection.

Here are the Studs and Duds for the Lions in their preseason win against the Panthers.

Detroit Lions rookie WR Chase Cota taking advantage of his opportunity

Cota has played well when given chances to show what he can do in Lions training camp and the preseason

The beauty of the preseason is the different backstories for each player that is fighting for their spot on the 53-man roster of an NFL team. From first-round draft picks to undrafted rookies, there’s so much intrigue with it all.

For the Detroit Lions, there have been a few intriguing names that have stood out for the team. But currently, nobody has been grabbing more attention than undrafted rookie Chase Cota. He’s a 6-foot-4, 200-pound wide receiver out of Oregon. Prior to posting 36 receptions for 497 yards with the Ducks, Cota played at UCLA for four seasons.

His father, Chad, played at Oregon and was in the NFL from 1995 to 2002 with the Panthers, Rams, Colts and Saints. Also, Chase is first cousins with his Lions teammate Brady Breeze.

For Chase Cota, he’s taken advantage of every chance he’s been given so far for the Detroit Lions. In the first preseason game, he was the most productive Lions player on offense with 4 receptions for 60 yards against the Giants. He was tied for the team lead with 7 targets in that game.

In week two of the preseason against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Cota saw his production totals slip from where they were a week ago. However, he still was able to produce a touchdown and he had an impressive 28-yard punt return after the Jaguars opening drive stalled due to a holding penalty. More importantly, Cota is seeing the field more than just about any receiver on the roster.

Looking at the graphic above from Pro Football Focus (PFF), Cota played 17 snaps, and he had 11 routes run. As you can see, the only player who had more snaps than him at receiver was 7th-round pick Antoine Green. Regardless, the consecutive weeks of production is a promising sign for the undrafted receiver out of Oregon.

During training camp, head coach Dan Campbell has been asked frequently about the wide receiver room in Detroit. He’s been very upfront about anyone and everyone in that room. He’s even said, “the wide receiver room is wide open. If you want a spot, go get it.”

Players such as Dylan Drummond, Trinity Benson and Chase Cota have all been players that have been named as guys that can go get a spot. After two weeks of the preseason, Lions fans may want to get familiar with Cota. He’s continued to impress from offense to special teams. He’ll get one last chance this Friday against the Carolina Panthers to earn his spot on the Lions’ 53-man roster. No matter the outcome, it sure looks like Chase Cota is taking advantage of every opportunity he’s gotten with the Detroit Lions.

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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.

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Lions rookie report: Strong showing from Detroit’s rookies in win over Giants

The Lions beat the Giants 21-16 and relied heavily on contributions from the rookie class

The Detroit Lions came out victorious from their first preseason game of 2023. Not only did they come out with a win, but they got early returns on their investments from their rookie class.

You can’t talk about this game without mentioning the wide receivers. Detroit has three first-year receivers on the team and all three made an impact against the Giants.

Chase Cota, undrafted out of Oregon, played for most of the game and had quite the professional debut with four catches for 60 yards. Seventh-round pick Antoine Green aided early on in the game with three catches of his own for 36 yards. Dylan Drummond, who has picked up some attention throughout training camp, had a quieter game but still contributed nonetheless. The former Eastern Michigan wideout earned 12 yards on two receptions and also took one kick return for 19 yards.

Undrafted rookie quarterback Adrian Martinez came in for Nate Sudfeld in the fourth quarter and showed some flashes of potential. Known for being mobile in college, he ran the ball 5 times with his longest gain being 10 yards. He capped off his day with a rushing touchdown to take Detroit into the lead. He didn’t look as good as a passer, only completing four-of-seven attempts for 37 yards, but his performance should earn him more playing time in the remaining preseason showings.

Tight end Sam LaPorta saw the field plenty in the first half of the game, but did not contribute much to the box score. He was utilized often in 12-personnel sets alongside Brock Wright and the two even lined up side-by-side at times. LaPorta was targeted once but dropped the pass.

First-round pick Jahmyr Gibbs impressed early on despite some poor offensive line play up front. The shifty running back showed an ability to find his way upfield in situations that would normally be a loss of yardage. He also briefly flashed his skills as a receiver with one catch for 18 yards. He also proved himself to be a team player as he is credited with a tackle on New York’s Jason Pinnock following an interception from Sudfeld.

Fellow rookie running back Mohamed Ibrahim did not share the same successes. Ibrahim averaged 2.3 yards per carry on his four touches and had to briefly go to the locker room wit the trainer after suffering a minor injury.

On the offensive line, fifth-round pick Colby Sorsdal started the game at right guard and it became evident that there would be a learning curve for the former William & Mary lineman. Undrafted rookies Brad Cecil and Connor Galvin served as the respective second-team center and right tackle.

On the other side of the ball, defensive lineman Brodric Martin may have stood out size-wise, but his one tackle on the day leaves us waiting to see what made the Western Kentucky product worthy of a costly trade-up in the third round. Fellow rookie linemen Chris Smith and Cory Durden saw limited action against the Giants but did not do anything noteworthy.

First-round pick Jack Campbell had a very impressive debut for the Lions. The former Iowa Hawkeye had four tackles and a pass defense on the day and seemed to bring life to the team’s run defense. With Alex Anzalone not suited up, Campbell got the start alongside Derrick Barnes.

Undrafted linebacker Trevor Nowaske had his name called on the broadcast a few times, and for good reason. The Saginaw Valley State standout also put up four tackles in this matchup against New York.

The four rookies in Detroit’s secondary were some of the biggest playmakers of this group. Safety Brandon Joseph made impactful plays everywhere on the field. On top of his game-sealing interception, he also played well against the run and even made a tackle-for-loss.

Nickel defender Brian Branch got his first start as a Lion and immediately made plays. Not even four minutes into the game, he sniffed out a screen to veteran Cole Beasley and quickly took him down for a loss of yardage.

Undrafted rookie Starling Thomas has been the training camp darling of 2023, and he continued to impress against the Giants. His biggest contributions were on special teams, where he excelled as a gunner on the punt team and also put up some key blocks on kick and punt returns throughout the game.

Look: Top photos from the Lions preseason win over the Giants