Ex-Lion, ‘Hard Knocks’ star Kalil Pimpleton visiting Giants

Former Detroit Lions wide receiver and “Hard Knocks” star, Kalil Pimpleton, will pay a visit to the New York Giants.

The New York Giants will continue tweaking their roster between now and a Week 1 game against the Tennessee Titans, which means plenty of visits, tryouts and transactions.

One upcoming round of visits will include undrafted rookie wide receiver Kalil Pimpleton, who spent the summer with the Detroit Lions and found a little fame on HBO’s “Hard Knocks.”

The 23-year-old Pimpleton, who played his college ball at Central Michigan after transferring from Virginia, caught the eye of many for his juggling ability and arguably oversized pads. However, his play on the field wasn’t quite as consistent as his juggling, which led to the Lions releasing him as a part of final cuts.

In three preseason games, Pimpleton hauled in nine receptions for 69 yards and four first downs and had one kick return for 30 yards. But he also made at least one glaring drop.

As a senior at Central Michigan, Pimpleton was named Mid-American Conference Special Teams Player of the Year and selected to the All-MAC First Team as both a punt returner and wide receiver.

[lawrence-related id=696452,696417,696415]

[listicle id=696434]

Kalil Pimpleton not on Lions initial practice squad, visiting with the New York Giants

Undrafted rookie WR Kalil Pimpleton is visiting with the New York Giants and is not on the Detroit Lions’ initial practice squad

Lions fans poring over the names on the team’s initial practice squad might have noticed a prominent name missing. Undrafted rookie wide receiver Kalil Pimpleton was not on the list.

Pimpleton cleared waivers after being cut by the Lions on Tuesday, but the dynamic slot receiver and return specialist from Central Michigan is looking to advance his NFL career elsewhere instead of immediately signing to the Lions practice squad. Per NFL.com, Pimpleton took a visit with the New York Giants on Wednesday.

He is an unrestricted free agent able to sign with any other team, either to their active roster or practice squad. The Lions have no contractual control or obligation to Pimpleton after waiving him this week. A Muskegon native, Pimpleton was popular with fans for his quick smile and quicker feet.

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

Lions to release rookie WR Kalil Pimpleton

Pimpleton showed some potential as a slot receiver and return specialist early in training camp

The Detroit Lions are parting ways with one of their most intriguing members of the undrafted rookie class. Detroit will waive wide receiver and return specialist Kalil Pimpleton in the roster cutdown from 80 to 53 players.

Pimpleton showed some real vitality as a nifty and speedy receiving option out of the slot. He earned some high reps early in camp as both a punt return and kick return option, but the arrival of former USFL standout Maurice Alexander effectively ended Pimpleton’s chances of sticking strictly as a return man.

The Central Michigan grad from Muskegon caught nine passes for 69 yards in the three preseason games. Pimpleton also had a costly dropped pass in the finale vs. Pittsburgh. The 5-foot-9 dynamo could return on the Lions’ practice squad.

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

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.

10 takeaways from the first 10 days of Lions training camp

Some of the top things we’ve seen and heard on Dan Campbell, Jared Goff, the secondary, Day 3 rookies, leadership and more

Hard to believe but two weeks of Detroit Lions training camp have already flown by. The Lions have held 10 practice sessions over that timeframe, as well as press conferences and meeting time with the media for several coaches and players.

Here are 10 takeaways I’ve witnessed in my days in Allen Park as well as some more overarching observations drawing on what others have seen, too.

Lions stock report after the 1st week of training camp

Which players have helped themselves in the first week of Lions training camp and which have not?

We’ve now had seven practice sessions and the mandatory day off at Detroit Lions training camp. Three days in pads and four with less contact have revealed some players moving up, with others fading a little in the depth chart quest.

Here are some of the players who have helped themselves the most, as well as some who haven’t started training camp as well as possible.

8 things to watch in Detroit Lions training camp

From position battles to schematic changes to coaching approach, here are 8 things our Jeff Risdon will be watching in Lions training camp in 2022

Detroit Lions training camp fires up on Wednesday morning at the team’s headquarters in Allen Park. A month of play implementation, roster battles, skills development and team building should produce a lot to talk about.

Here are some of the things I will be focused upon in Lions training camp over the next few weeks.

Lions training camp position preview: Wide receivers

Lions training camp position preview: Linebacker

Lions training camp position preview: Quarterback

Lions training camp position preview: Wide receivers

Detroit has overhauled the WR room in the last year but still has some question marks

Next up in the positional preview series for the Detroit Lions are the wide receivers. This is a group that looks a lot different than it did a year ago, and that’s a very good thing.

The Lions have added quite a bit of talent after seeing one of last year’s rookies emerge as a top-flight weapon. Detroit has placed an emphasis on speed, length and playmaking ability that was notably in absentia in 2021.

Lions training camp position preview: Tight end

Lions training camp position preview: Running back

Lions training camp position preview: Quarterback

Lions minicamp notebook, Day 3: News and notes from the final practice session

Notes from Thursday’s Detroit Lions minicamp session on Jared Goff, UDFAs, punt return fun, an unexpected safety standout and more

Minicamp wrapped on Thursday after three days of practice sessions at the Detroit Lions team facility in suburban Allen Park.

The mood and action was more laid back in a last-day-of-school kind of vibe, to steal a take from Jeremy Reisman of Pride of Detroit. It even ended with a sort of “field day” fun competition between the offense and defense.

Here’s what I saw and heard in Thursday’s session.

Lions minicamp notebook, Day 2: Probing the depths of the roster

Lions minicamp notebook: First impressions from opening day

Lions announce 12 UDFA signings for rookie minicamp

4 of the UDFAs were previously known to have signed and the Lions added 8 more including CMU WR/RS Kalil Pimpleton

When the Detroit Lions started waiving players left and right during the week, it wasn’t just to show some players the door. They needed to open up some roster spaces to sign more undrafted rookies for this weekend’s rookie minicamp.

The Lions dumped eight players this week and used all of those roster spots to add to the UDFA class. Previously limited to just four signings due to a lack of room on the 90-man roster, Detroit added eight more players under contract.

The new additions:

  • Cedric Boswell, CB, Miami OH
  • Nolan Givan, TE, SE Louisiana
  • Josh Johnson, WR, Tulsa
  • Zein Obeid, OL, Ferris State
  • Kalil Pimpleton, WR/RS, Central Michigan
  • Corey Sutton, WR, Appalachian State
  • Demetrius Taylor, DT, Appalachian State
  • Jermaine Waller, CB, Georgia Tech

They join the four prior UDFAs who all received at least $100,000 to sign with the Lions: TCU OT Obinna Eze, Michigan State OL Kevin Jarvis, San Deigo State RB Greg Bell and San Jose State TE Derrick Deese Jr.