Lions make 3 roster cuts, trim 2 TEs

None of the moves are a surprise as the team works to get to the 85-man limit by Tuesday afternoon

The Detroit Lions have made some roster moves in advance of Tuesday’s roster cutdown deadline. Three players are no longer with the team and will not travel to Indianapolis for this week’s joint practices or preseason game with the Colts.

The Lions waived TE Nolan Givan and OL Ryan McCollum and also released veteran tight end Garrett Griffin. Givan is an undrafted rookie, while McCollum is in his second year in Detroit. They are subject to waiver claims while Griffin, a vested veteran, is free to sign with any team as a free agent immediately.

None of the moves are surprising after watching the first three weeks of training camp and the first preseason game.

The Lions have until 4 p.m. on Tuesday to make two more moves to get to the 85-man limit. The roster currently stands at 87.

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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.

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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