Tag: Ryan Swoboda

Falcons sign DE Kenny Oginni as part of International Player Program

The Falcons signed DE Kenny Oginni through the NFL’s International Player Program, meaning he won’t count against the 90-man roster

The Atlanta Falcons signed defensive end Kenny Oginni as part of the NFL’s International Player Program on Thursday afternoon. Oginni won’t count against the 90-man roster, but he has a chance to impress Atlanta’s coaching staff during training camp.

Oginni spent some time with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022 after signing with the team as an undrafted free agent. He appeared in the preseason but did not make the 53-man roster. Born in Nigeria, Oginni didn’t get into football until 2014.

“The first time Oginni ever did anything football related was at a camp in 2014 sponsored by defensive end Osi Umenyiora, who played for the New York Giants from 2003-12 and the Falcons from 2013-14,” writes Falcons team reporter Terrin Waack. “Oginni has since participated in NFL-sanctioned events, such as an International Player’s Combine and the International Player Pathway program.”

The Falcons released offensive lineman Ryan Swoboda on Thursday as well. Swoboda, 25, spent last season on the practice squad and signed a futures contract with the team back in January.

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Falcons sign OL Ryan Swoboda to practice squad

The Falcons have signed offensive lineman Ryan Swoboda to the practice squad

The Atlanta Falcons have signed offensive lineman Ryan Swoboda to their 16-man practice squad, team reporter Terrin Waack announced on Wednesday afternoon. The former UCF standout went undrafted in 2023 before signing with the Detroit Lions during training camp.

Swoboda was one of the more athletic offensive linemen in the 2023 draft class. He earned an elite RAS (relative athleticism score) of 9.32, according to NFL draft expert Kent Lee Platte.

Check out the team’s updated 53-man roster and depth chart entering Week 17.

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Lions add Devine Ozigbo to practice squad on busy Monday for ex-Lions looking for work

Lions add Devine Ozigbo to practice squad on a busy Monday for ex-Lions looking for work

Devine Ozigbo is back on the Detroit Lions practice squad after a brief bout of unemployment. The Lions signed the veteran running back onto the practice squad on Monday after releasing him late last week in the move to sign linebacker Trevor Nowaske to the active roster.

It was a busy Monday on the NFL transaction wire for a lot of former Lions around the league. Specifically, the weekly tryout circuit featured several players who have spent some time in Detroit, including a wave of offensive linemen who played for the Lions this past preseason.

OT Ryan Swoboda – Atlanta Falcons

OT Bobby Hart – San Francisco 49ers

DB Saivion Smith – Tennessee Titans

K John Parker Romo – Titans

K Austin Seibert – Titans

None of the former Lions were signed as of Tuesday morning.

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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.

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. 

Detroit Lions 2023 undrafted free agent tracker

Tracking all the undrafted free agent signed by the Detroit Lions after the 2023 NFL draft

The 2023 NFL draft might be over, but the Detroit Lions are not done adding players. Prospects who went undrafted during the seven rounds are now free to sign with any team.

Detroit GM Brad Holmes has typically been one of the most aggressive in signing undrafted free agents, or UDFAs.

Here are the players the Lions have either signed as undrafted free agents or invited to the rookie minicamp for an in-person audition. Some reported signings are subject to change.