Tag: Zonovan Knight

Detroit Lions roster cutdown deadline tracker

Detroit Lions roster cutdown deadline tracker ahead of Tuesday’s 53-man limit

The Detroit Lions must reduce the roster down to the 53-man limit before the deadline at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, August 27th. It’s a tough time with a quick turnaround from the final preseason game.

The Lions haven’t made any official transactions yet, but several moves are already reported as of Monday evening.

Most notable among those is the reported release of wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones. He and fellow WR Kaden Davis were the first two cuts to leak out.

We will keep posting reported cuts as we find them. Keep in mind they are unofficial unless posted by the Lions themselves.

No real surprise with either Zylstra or Knight, though Zylstra did have some legit potential to stick as a receiving TE.

We have our first surprise with Mitchell Agude, who was the only backup to Derrick Barnes at the SAM position.

This one comes directly sourced: The Lions are releasing LB Ty Summers.

Also confirmed by me via a team source: Hogan Hatten has won the long snapper battle and the Lions are releasing LS Scott Daly. Hatten keeps the streak of undrafted rookies making the initial 53-man roster rolling to 14 years.

Last year’s UDFA to make it, Steven Gilmore, did not make the cut in 2024.

The biggest surprise thus far…

Beauplan led the Lions in tackles in the preseason win over the Chiefs:

Numerous sources have also reported the Lions are cutting WR Daurice Fountain, who was the leading candidate for the No. 4 WR spot after the first week of training camp.

CFL star Mathieu Betts fell short of making the team.

And now, the official list from the Lions:

Lions RB Zonovan Knight reveals he’s fully cleared for training camp

Lions RB Zonovan Knight reveals he’s fully cleared for all activities ahead of training camp

Running back Zonovan Knight missed nearly all of his first season in Detroit after suffering a serious injury. Knight is ready to do more in his second season in a Lions uniform.

The running back known as “Bam” from his college and New York Jets days is now cleared for full activity. Knight tore the labrum in his shoulder in the Lions’ Week 5 win over the Panthers.

Knight joyously took to social media to announce the good news,

“Just got officially cleared,” Knight wrote. “Been a long time but I’m back! God is good.”

Knight was cleared for light, non-contact duty for the recent minicamp and OTAs. He took reps with the rest of the running backs and didn’t show visible signs of the injury. Being cleared for full contact means Knight will get to try and earn a roster spot during training camp at a very crowded RB position. The Lions added fourth-round rookie Sione Vaki to the mix that includes holdovers Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery and Craig Reynolds, all on the depth chart above Knight.

The Lions have re-signed RB Zonovan Knight

The Detroit Lions are bringing back RB Zonovan “Bam” Knight as an exclusive rights free agent

Zonovan “Bam” Knight is heading back to Detroit. The Lions announced on Thursday they have re-signed the free agent running back as an exclusive rights free agent, or ERFA.

Insert your favorite Emeril Lagasse joke here…

“Bam” joined the Lions last summer after being let go by the New York Jets. He was a 2022 undrafted free agent find for the Jets, rushing for 300 yards and catching 13 passes for another 100 as a rookie. He saw limited duty for the Lions before suffering a shoulder injury against the Carolina Panthers that sent him to injured reserve.

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Knight’s return gives the Lions the chance to keep their 2023 running back group intact. Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery are still under contract, and No. 3 RB Craig Reynolds is a restricted free agent.

The ERFA deal means Knight will earn the league minimum salary in Detroit in 2024, per the terms of the NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement with the NFLPA.

Lions place 2 players on I.R. in a series of moves ahead of Week 6

The Lions made a series of internal moves to handle some injury issues ahead of Week 6

As expected, the Detroit Lions made some injury-related roster moves on Saturday ahead of the Week 6 matchup with the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay.

The Lions placed two players on injured reserve. Cornerback Emmanuel Moseley will miss the rest of the season with a torn right ACL, while running back Zonovan Knight will miss at least four games with a left shoulder injury. Both injuries happened in the Week 5 win over the Carolina Panthers.

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The I.R. moves opened up two roster spots which the Lions filled internally. Detroit activated CB Khalil Dorsey from the injured reserve to take Moseley’s spot. Offensive lineman Dan Skipper was signed from the practice squad to the active roster. Skipper, who has been back on the practice squad after spending the summer with the Indianapolis Colts, will help bolster the offensive line depth.

With Knight on I.R. and Jahmyr Gibbs ruled out with an injured hamstring, the Lions added a running back by elevating RB Devine Ozigbo from the practice squad. He’ll be the third RB behind David Montgomery and Craig Reynolds in Sunday’s matchup with Tampa Bay.

Lions RB Zonovan Knight out for the season

Knight suffered the shoulder injury when he was tackled after making a catch in Week 5

It didn’t look good on the field on Sunday when Lions running back Zonovan Knight stayed down on the Ford Field turf after being tackled following a reception in Detroit’s win over Carolina. Knight was helped from the field with a trainer holding his left arm in place with the running back in obvious pain.

Reports now indicate that the worst fear for Knight is the reality. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Knight will miss the rest of the season with the shoulder injury. He has been held out of this week’s practices with the injury.

Craig Reynolds took over the backup RB duties from Knight with Jahmyr Gibbs also out on Sunday. Expect that to continue if Gibbs can’t play in Week 6 in Tampa Bay. The Lions also have veteran Devine Ozigbo on the practice squad.

Quick takeaways from the Lions Week 5 win over the Panthers

Postgame thoughts from Detroit’s Week 5 win over the Panthers

Sunday was a pleasant day in the park for a catfight. The Detroit Lions pounced all over the Carolina Panthers in Ford Field, mauling the winless visitors 42-24. The final score was not that close, either.

The Lions kept the positive momentum flowing after the mini-bye following Detroit’s Week 4 win in Green Bay back on Thursday Night Football 10 days earlier. Despite missing key pieces on both sides of the ball, the Lions quickly clawed out a big lead and never let the Panthers sniff hope of coming back.

Here are some takeaways from watching the Week 5 game in real-time.

Lions add OL help in a flurry of roster moves

The Lions add some OL help in a flurry of roster moves to help bolster the banged-up roster

Faced with several injuries around the roster, the Detroit Lions made some roster moves on Tuesday to help bolster the depth.

Offensive lineman Kayode Awosika was signed from the practice squad to the active roster. Awosika can play either guard spot as well as right tackle. With starting RG Halapoulivaati Vaitai dealing with a knee injury, Awosika likely becomes the backup guard behind replacement starter Graham Glasgow.

Detroit also brought back veteran Dan Skipper to the practice squad. It’s a return to the Lions for the NFL’s tallest player after a brief stint with the Colts.

This is in addition to the previously reported move of promoting RB Zonovan Knight from the practice squad to the active roster.

To create room on the 53-man roster, Detroit placed OLB James Houston and DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson on injured reserve. They will each miss a minimum of four games.

Lions sign RB Zonovan Knight from the practice squad

Knight ran for 300 yards as a rookie for the Jets in 2022

Facing the potential of a week or two without starting RB David Montgomery, the Detroit Lions have signed running back Zonovan “Bam” Knight to the active roster from the team’s practice squad.

Knight has been on Detroit’s practice squad since the start of the season. The 5-11, 210-pounder spent his rookie season in 2022 with the New York Jets.

Montgomery suffered a thigh bruise in Sunday’s loss to the Seahawks and could miss a week or two, according to head coach Dan Campbell. He’s day-to-day as the Lions approach the Week 3 home date with the Atlanta Falcons.

While not official, the Knight signing was reported by his agent. The Lions are expected to place DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson on I.R. with a torn pectoral muscle, which will create the roster opening for Knight.

Lions RB David Montgomery could miss some time to thigh injury

The Detroit Lions could be without RB David Montgomery for a couple weeks due a thigh bruise injury forcing Jahmyr Gibbs to extend role

The Detroit Lions lost their home opener against the Seattle Seahawks, 37-31. Unfortunately, things continued to go downhill for the Lions as several prominent players suffered injuries and could miss significant playing time, including David Montgomery.

Montgomery has been the key player for the Lions in the running game during the first two games of the season, while the team eased Jahymr Gibbs into the NFL. However, following a thigh bruise injury, Montgomery may have to sit out for a couple of weeks according to Dave Birkett from the Detroit Free Press. The injury occurred when he was trying to gain more yards, but got twisted up in the process.

Montgomery was having a good game, running for 67 yards and a touchdown, and he was able to get the Lions into manageable down and distance situations by being savvy between the tackles. After he was forced to leave the game, it was clear that the dynamic part of the offense was sorely missed. The Lions relied on Craig Reynolds and Gibbs to pick up the slack, but they were unable to recreate the same production Montgomery was having in the contest.

Gibbs is not the bruiser, between-the-tackle runner like Montgomery is, and was used more in the receiving game, where he had a crucial drop, than in actual rushing. Reynolds also struggled, rushing for only seven yards on three carries. Although Halapoulivaati Vaitai’s injury may have played a role, the difference in the offense was very noticeable.

It will be interesting to see if the Lions bring up Zonovan Knight from the practice squad, but the focus should be on how offensive coordinator Ben Johnson will scheme the offense in the absence of Montgomery. Gibbs’ style is vastly different than Montgomery’s, and the Lions might need him to grow up quickly. The Lions will face the Atlanta Falcons next week, who brought down the Green Bay Packers this week and are currently 2-0 for the season.

Jersey numbers for the Lions latest player additions

The latest player additions for the Detroit Lions have decided on their jersey numbers, as well as number switches from last season.

The Detroit Lions have finalized their 53-man roster and practice squad, but as we all know, this could change at any moment. The roster now includes a mix of new and old players, and we’re excited to see what jersey numbers they’ll be wearing this season. Some players have even decided to switch their numbers from last year.

Below is the list of jersey numbers for the new players, as well as the players who have switched their numbers for this season.

Teddy Bridgewater takes over No. 10, previously held by Nate Sudfeld

Jerry Jacobs previously was 39 but switched to No. 23.

Steven Gilmore switched to No. 24 after sporting 36 through the preseason

Michael Badgley goes back to No. 17, which he held last season.

David Blough will be No. 18 this year. He previously was 10 when he was with the Lions before.

Zonovan Knight will hold No. 28 after the departure of Jermar Jefferson

Raymond Johnson will be No. 52 after the release of Christian Covington

Michael Niese will take over No. 62 with the departure of Ryan Swoboda

Darice Fountain will hold No. 84, which was previously held by Avery Davis

Quinton Bohanna will be No. 90 after Cory Durden was waived