Tag: Parker Romo

Report: Lions shopping around for a new kicker

A fresh report indicates the Lions are shopping around for a new kicker ahead of the NFL roster cutdown deadline

As the NFL 53-man roster deadline looms, the Detroit Lions are one of several teams looking for a potential upgrade at kicker. A report from Dianna Russini from The Athletic includes the Lions with a few other teams that are all “making calls around the league” to find a better kicking option.

The Lions currently have Riley Patterson as the placekicker after waiving former XFL standout Parker Romo. Patterson had a rough preseason finale, however; the third-year kicker came up short on a 53-yard field goal attempt and also shanked an extra point. He sorely lacks reliable range, making just three of his eight career attempts beyond 48 yards in his two seasons split between Detroit (2021) and Jacksonville (2022).

The kicking market has been active already. The Cleveland Browns traded a 2025 draft pick to the Chargers for Dustin Hopkins, pulling the plug on 2022 fourth-rounder Cade York after another erratic preseason. The Lions’ primary kicker in 2022, Michael Badgley, has been cut twice since the Lions released him at the start of training camp, too.

Predicting the 22 remaining Detroit Lions roster cutdowns

The Detroit Lions have 75 players on the active roster as of noon Monday and have to be down to 53 by 4 p.m. Tuesday

It’s almost time for the Detroit Lions initial 53-man roster to be set for the 2023 regular season. The team has already trimmed several players from the 90-man preseason limit, but there are more cutdowns to be made.

As of 12 p.m. ET on Monday, the Lions have 75 players still on the active roster. That leaves 22 more players to be removed from the active roster before 4 p.m. on Tuesday.

Note that CB Emmanuel Moseley and QB Hendon Hooker are not currently on the active roster, so they don’t factor in. WR Jameson Williams begins serving his suspension after the cutdowns, so he’s not involved either. 

Former Lions kicker Michael Badgley signs with Washington Commanders

The “Money Badger” lands on his feet in Washington

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As we know, rosters in the NFL are never permanent. They’re fluid and there’s constant movement. In Detroit, that holds true. Just a few days ago, the Lions traded for wide receiver Denzel Mims and in the process, they made a surprising move by cutting kicker Michael Badgley.

Last season, Badgley was 20-of-24 on field goals and was a perfect 33-for-33 on extra points. In the off-season, he had signed a one-year contract worth $1.2 million dollars to stay in Detroit. He will now compete with Joey Slye for the starting kicker spot in Washington.

As for Detroit, their competition will come down to Riley Patterson and Parker Romo. When speaking to the media, Dan Campbell said this on the potential competition between the two players, “So we just felt like between those two guys, let’s get a look at them and let them compete against each other. That’s why we did what we did.”

There was a thought that Badgley could return to Detroit but that doesn’t look likely with him going to Washington. We’ll see what happens between both teams on their kicking competition.