Lions News

[CGVT]

Yeah, they'll have Martin coming back in four weeks. I think they were pretty happy with his improvement.

[Blue Lagoon58]

Tim Patrick is the guy.

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[froot loops]

Reader is their only NT and true run stuffer. McNeil and Levi can fill that role but it’s not what they are asked to do usually. Mingo is undersized.

Cominsky is not playing anytime soon, so there is some roster gymnastics they will perform. The NFL changed some of the injury designation rules so Lions likely looking to leverage those.

Peko will be on the roster tomorrow I predict. Cominsky will go to the IR. You're allowed to put two players on the IR prior to cut downs and that was Martin and Moseley.

[Mainevent]

Tim Patrick is the guy.

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Look, any time you can get a guy who hasn’t played in two years, you gotta do it.

[Mainevent]

Peko will be on the roster tomorrow I predict. Cominsky will go to the IR. You're allowed to put two players on the IR prior to cut downs and that was Martin and Moseley.

I would think Peko or Ukwu. But Levi and Mingo can rotate in at DE, so agreed it probably leans Peko.

[whatever_gong82]

6 immediate reactions to Detroit Lions' 52, yes, 52-man roster

Justin Rogers
Aug 27

Detroit Lions player #48_2024 preseason.jpg

Allen Park — There are always a handful of surprises when it comes to the setting of the initial 53-man roster. It’s no different for the Detroit Lions this year, including the fact the roster is one shy of the limit.

I note that fact acknowledging the curious void could be filled minutes after this analysis publishes, and almost certainly no later than a few days. But beyond that to-be-determined addition, there’s plenty to talk about, so let’s get to it.



Fewer QBs than expected

The first surprise of the day came hours before the 4 p.m. cutdown deadline, when the NFL Network reported Nate Sudfeld was being released.

This might seem like an attempt to massage the roster, with Sudfeld returning to the 53-man roster in a day or two after some procedural adjustments, but given the way the NFL Network regurgitates whatever agents tell them, it feels like that information would have been attached to the announcement.


Look, I’ll readily acknowledge many readers are on board with this move. I, too, believe it’s OK to go with only two quarterbacks when you have a reliable, durable veteran starter. But there was never a hint that Lions didn’t consider Sudfeld the safer option to back up Jared Goff over the still-developing Hendon Hooker, including pretty clear comments from coach Dan Campbell on Monday.

I admittedly haven’t read a single roster projection of the other reporters that cover the team regularly, but I’d be surprised if any were bold enough to have predicted this move. If I wrong, kudos to them.


I do feel this was the right move. If Hooker gets forced into action, you’ll see the same inconsistencies with his accurate and timing that we’ve seen all offseason, but his mobility is enough to keep the team afloat in an emergency situation.

As for Sudfeld, I wouldn’t rule out a practice squad spot, given the value of his experience in the game-planning process. Alternatively, the Lions could look Jake Fromm, who saw a spike in popularity after an impressive showing in the fourth quarter of the preseason finale. Given how quickly he acclimated, there’s little questioning his football IQ.



Receiver room light (and small)

While I misfired on the quarterbacks, I correctly predicted the team would keep just four of their receivers — Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Kalif Raymond and undrafted rookie Isaiah Williams.

Not only is that fewer than we’re used to seeing, it’s a wildly undersized room. Jameson Williams is the only one taller than six-foot, and while rail-thin is probably hyperbole, he’s also the lightest receiver on the roster at 180 pounds, tied with Raymond.


I know Campbell downplayed the need for a big-bodied option during his Monday press conference, but I believe some schematic limitations come with this setup. First, it’s good to have an option who is a legitimate threat to catch a back-shoulder ball, for spacing in the red zone, if nothing else.

Additionally, for a team that prioritizes blocking on the perimeter, this hinders some of what they might want to do in the run game outside the tackles. Obviously, St. Brown is a “dawg” as a blocker, but no matter the effort they give, the other three just don’t have enough sand in their pants to consistently execute.


Of course, there’s always that open roster spot. And there were some intriguing receivers with bigger frames who got the ax around the league, so it’s reasonable to believe that’s how the Lions will be filling the hole.

There are multiple reports 6-foot-4, 212-pounder Tim Patrick is joining Detroit’s practice squad with plans to eventually be added to the main roster. As long as he’s all the way back from the torn ACL he suffered in 2022 and torn Achilles from last year — which reports out of Denver suggest he is — that looks to be a pretty great solution.



Not the third tight end most expected

I never shied away from my uncertainty regarding the third tight end spot. That showed up with how I had a different player winning the job in each of my three roster projections.

Ultimately, the Lions settled for the best blocker in Parker Hesse, who regularly lined up as a fullback during training camp practices and the preseason games. Additionally, this is a guy who logged more than 200 special teams snaps two seasons ago, which is a critical component to the roster spot.


The first hint Hesse had a shot to win this job came the day after Detroit’s first padded practice of camp, when he was the first player mentioned by Campbell as standing out. There’s an obvious kinship between Hesse’s pad-popping blocking style and how Campbell approached the position during his playing days.

Plus, I’m not sure it’s possible for the Lions to roster too many Iowa guys. There’s shared DNA in the toughness of the two programs.



Fool me twice, shame on me

As noted, Campbell had me convinced Sudfeld would start the season as the backup quarterback. Similarly, the continued doubt the coach expressed about edge rusher James Houston, in conjunction with the steady praise Campbell offered for undrafted rookie Isaac Ukwu, had me reading something in the tea leaves that wasn’t there.

To be clear, the thought Detroit might part with Houston wasn’t limited to Campbell’s public comments. For the past year, I’ve picked up on frustration in the building on the young defender’s inability to take some of the coaching points and add versatility to his skill set.


But man, there was going to be some angry fans if they cut a player who racked up 8.0 sacks in seven games as a rookie two years ago. If you’re going to be a one-trick pony, pass rushing is one of the best tricks to know.

As for Ukwu, feels like he’s bound for the practice squad, assuming he isn’t one of the 30 or so players who gets scooped off waivers after flashing some promise as an undersized power rusher who can reasonable set an edge.



Defensive line shuffle

When John Cominsky suffered a knee injury — reportedly a torn MCL — there was this belief the best-case scenario was he’d be able to return for the back half of the regular season. That made the veteran defensive lineman a prime candidate for one of the two injured reserve spots that wouldn’t count against the 53-man roster.

Instead, it was Brodric Martin taking that second IR spot, while Cominsky made the roster. Does this mean he's close to returning? Not exactly. According to a source with knowledge of the situation, Cominsky is still headed to IR, it will just become official later this week.


That will free up another roster spot, and as reader Paul Van Randwyk suggests, Kyle Peko seems like the most likely candidate to be brought back.

Peko, who I featured in a story last week, was looking like a roster lock after dominating during a full-contact scrimmage, getting held out of all three preseason games and being told by the coaching staff not to worry about it.


With Martin out for at least four weeks, and DJ Reader still working his way back to full strength after recently getting activated off the physically unable to perform list, Peko’s experience playing nose tackle feels critical.

As a veteran, Peko doesn't need to be exposed to waivers, making this a simple move.



Surprise, surprise

Campbell said something that caught my ear Monday when asked about the importance of special teams play. While acknowledging its continued value, he said the team prefers young players with upside in those roles. Responding to those comments, I mentioned it could be good news for players like Brandon Joseph and Loren Strickland.

Well, both of them made the roster! Joseph's inclusion wasn’t too surprising, given he’d seen playing with the first-team defense at different points this offseason. Plus, he'd shown the same knack he had for intercepting passes in college during camp.


But Strickland? His emergence has come out of left field. Sure, Campbell had praised the undrafted rookie for impressing the coaching staff, but we’re talking about a D-II transfer who wasn’t even a full-time starter as a fifth-year senior at Ball State in 2023.

He’s a good athlete and he played a lot of different roles in the Cardinals’ secondary. That versatility, intelligence and ability to make plays throughout camp makes him the biggest surprise to earn a roster spot, especially given Detroit’s status as a Super Bowl contender.


Email: jrogers@detroitfootball.net

X: Justin_Rogers

[whatever_gong82]

Detroit Lions’ initial 53-man roster with analysis

Detroit Lion Isaiah Williams vs Pittsburgh '24 preseason.jpg

Paywall article from The Athletic.

By Colton Pouncy
30m ago


After much debate over the final handful of spots, the Detroit Lions’ initial 53-man roster is here. Emphasis on initial.

This is the NFL, after all. Things change quickly. The roster you see below won’t be the one the Lions enter the season with. In fact, there are only 52 players on the roster right now. There are moves to be made and markets to monitor.


But in the meantime, here’s the bulk of the Detroit Lions’ 2024 roster, and where things stand after cutdown day.


The initial 53-man roster

QBs (2): Jared Goff, Hendon Hooker
RBs (4): David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs, Craig Reynolds, Sione Vaki
WRs (4): Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Kalif Raymond, Isaiah Williams
TEs (3): Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, Parker Hesse
OL (10): Penei Sewell, Frank Ragnow, Taylor Decker, Kevin Zeitler, Graham Glasgow, Colby Sorsdal, Giovanni Manu, Michael Niese, Dan Skipper, Kayode Awosika
DT (4): Alim McNeill, DJ Reader, Levi Onwuzurike, Mekhi Wingo
Edge (5): Aidan Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport, Josh Paschal, James Houston, John Cominsky
LBs (6): Alex Anzalone, Derrick Barnes, Jack Campbell, Malcolm Rodriguez, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Ben Niemann
DBs (11): Carlton Davis III, Terrion Arnold, Amik Robertson, Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Kindle Vildor, Khalil Dorsey, Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch, Ifeatu Melifonwu, Brandon Joseph, Loren Strickland
Specialists (3): Jack Fox, Jake Bates, Hogan Hatten


NFI: G Christian Mahogany

IR designations: CB Emmanuel Moseley, DT Brodric Martin


Roster construction

As things stand, the Lions have just 52 players on the roster. That will, of course, change in the coming days. Also worth noting: the team has 23 players on offense and 26 on defense. That, too, will change.

The Lions are light at some positions — wide receiver, defensive tackle, edge — and will need to correct that at some point. With an extra roster spot, expect the front office to explore adding off the waiver wire or the list of recent cuts. Per multiple reports, the Lions are adding former Broncos WR Tim Patrick to the practice squad, with the expectation that he’ll eventually work his way onto the 53-man roster. It’s a move that makes a ton of sense. He’s got good size, hands, can block and has production in this league. Reports out of Denver are that Patrick had a good camp and looks healthy. Good pickup if true.


All things considered, the Lions have one of the stronger rosters in the league. Don’t lose sight of that when discussing the backend.


Notable cuts

We’ll start with Nate Sudfeld, a polarizing player. The average fan isn’t around for every day of training camp, but Sudfeld was the more consistent backup QB for the majority of the spring and summer. The coaching staff loves Sudfeld’s IQ, experience and veteran status. He’s a calming presence in a room that would otherwise consist of Goff and Hooker — a second-year QB still trying to navigate life in the NFL. For those reasons, and comments from Campbell himself, it sure sounded like Sudfeld would be on the team. Even if it meant cutting ties with a more talented, useful player elsewhere.

“You have to have conviction that whoever that guy is is going to be able to keep this ship afloat,” Campbell said of the backup job. “And what we know about Hooker is, Hooker is a young developing quarterback and he needs reps and he needs time. I do know that. And Nate right now has the upper hand because he’s played more. He’s been in it more, he’s seen it more, he just — and so with that, that would tell you there’s a good chance you could keep three. Am I going to say that’s 100 percent certain right now? No. But that’s kind of what you look at.”


Turns out, the Lions won’t keep three QBs. At least not right now. It’s possible the Lions are just making the numbers work and have an agreement in place to bring Sudfeld back into the mix in some capacity — perhaps the practice squad. But for now, he’s off the roster. Hooker looked far better in the preseason and should continue to be developed as Goff’s backup.

Veteran DL Kyle Peko did not make the initial 53-man roster. Again, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him back in the fold, considering the roster currently has just four true defensive tackles. More on that later. At edge, Mitchell Agude and Isaac Ukwu didn’t make the cut despite catching Campbell’s eye. That position’s looking a bit thin at the moment, but perhaps the Lions are comfortable knowing they kick Onwuzurike and Wingo out to edge on occasion.


Elsewhere, the Lions waived James Mitchell and Shane Zylstra. Zylstra looked like one of the top 3 tight ends in practice in terms of pure receiving. However, his blocking was less than ideal. Mitchell did not flash this summer. In the end, the Lions valued the blocking and versatility of Hesse over the others.

It wasn’t a surprise to see the Lions part ways with Donovan Peoples-Jones, Daurice Fountain or Kaden Davis — the top three contenders for the WR3 job. Even prior to the news of Patrick’s arrival, there was a growing sense that the Lions could opt to roll with just four receivers on the initial 53-man roster while adding a fifth from another team. Those four receivers ended up being St. Brown, Williams, Raymond and Isaiah Williams.

And finally, in long-snapping news, the Lions went with the upside option in Hogan Hatten over veteran Scott Daly. As mentioned in previous roster projections, this was the second year in a row the Lions have had a long snapper competition in training camp. That’s not common. And it doesn’t typically bode well for the incumbent.


John Cominsky made the '24 Detroit Lions roster.jpg


Surprise inclusions

John Cominsky, who’s been out since July with a torn MCL, is on the initial 53-man roster. The Lions had the option to designate him for a return but used those moves on Emmanuel Moseley and Brodric Martin. It’s possible the Lions are in wait-and-see mode with Cominsky and aren’t sure if it’s even worth designating him for a return over others, which is why those went to Moseley and Martin, who could be back sooner than Cominsky. Regardless, the Lions had three IR candidates and two spots. With Cominsky making the initial roster, there’s a strong c hance we see him placed on IR in short order, which would open up a roster spot for someone like Peko. Perhaps a little roster maneuvering at hand.

Along the offensive line, the Lions chose to keep 10 guys to start the season. It felt like the final spot could come down to Michael Niese, Kayode Awosika or UDFA Kinsgley Eguakun. Instead, the Lions kept Niese and Awosika — waiving Eguakun.


It’s not surprising to see Brandon Joseph on the initial 53-man roster as the fourth safety, but it is a bit surprising to see Loren Strickland as the fifth safety. The Lions loved veteran C.J. Moore and his special teams contributions, but as Dave Fipp and Campbell have said, it’s going to take more than that to make the roster these days. Strickland looked solid as a third-team defender over the summer and you have to think the Lions felt good enough about his contributions on special teams to warrant a move like this. The Lions have a young DB room, but there’s a lot to like about it.

Hesse is a player Campbell talked about early on in camp as a standout. He’s a strong blocker and adds positional versatility as a fullback. He was able to beat out a pair of incumbents in Mitchell (a former fifth-round pick) and Zylstra, who received plenty of first-team reps in camp when the Lions rested Sam LaPorta.


Spot well-earned: Isaiah Williams

Feel-good story for Williams. He began near the bottom of the depth chart as a UDFA wide receiver, made play after play in the preseason, clearly looked like one of the team’s four best receivers and still had his spot on the team questioned — only because of his size and redundancy. For a while there, even as he continued to impress, it didn’t feel like Williams was a lock. Through it all, though, Williams did everything he could to make the roster. He ultimately did.

What Williams brings to the table is a good football IQ, solid route running and some special teams ability as a returner. By all accounts, he’s a high-character addition, too. Checks a ton of boxes, even if he lacks the ideal size for the position. If Patrick does indeed get the bump to the 53-man roster, Detroit’s WR room would suddenly look a lot better heading into the season.


News and notes

• Reader was activated from the PUP list recently and is back at practice. Campbell said their initial plans were to have him return in Week 2 against the Buccanneers, but they’re monitoring how he progresses and haven’t ruled out Week 1.

• Several players are looking good for Week 1 after missing practice at various points in the last few weeks. That list includes Gibbs, LaPorta, Zeitler, Rodriguez, Arnold, Davis and Rakestraw.

• Christian Mahogany is back in the building after missing several weeks with an illness, but he’s not ready yet — hence the NFI designation.

• Brodric Martin left Saturday’s preseason finale with a hyperextension, per Campbell. It was enough to put him on injured reserve with a return designation.

• No real surprise, but Jake Bates remains the guy in Detroit. The Lions could’ve cut him and entered the initial 53-man roster without a kicker — as they did in 2021 — but they believe he’s a real talent and will see this through. The hope is he can settle into the position.

(Top photo of Isaiah Williams: Junfu Han / USA Today)


Colton Pouncy is a staff writer for The Athletic covering the Detroit Lions. He previously covered Michigan State football and basketball for the company, and covered sports for The Tennessean in Nashville prior to joining The Athletic. Follow Colton on Twitter @colton_pouncy

[Mainevent]

One interesting bit of symmetry - Tim Patrick likely only available because the Broncos signed Josh Reynolds.

[Cody_Russell]

James Mitchell, noooooo. Both Zylstra and Mitchell missing the cut wasn’t on my bingo card.

Loren Strickland and Michael Niese make the initial 53… interesting…

There’s always surprises when compared to the beginning of training camp. Isaiah Williams, Parker Hesse, Michael Niese, Ben Niemann, Hogan Hatten, and Loren Strickland emerging over the last month fits that category. Good for them. Now I need to read up and learn about these guys outside of the vague notes over the last month.

[froot loops]

The Lions haven't had a big bodied X receiver since that season they picked up Bolden.

[Forsh]

I would've maybe looked at Hakeem Butler over Patrick. Ya he hasn't done much in the L ... but all Patrick has been the last 3 years is injured

[Mainevent]

Patrick is really physically talented - Warren Sharp has some interesting data points on him. Also has a rep for being a good blocker.

https://x.com/SharpFootball/status/1828568248746475527

[kayrone]

"But Strickland? His emergence has come out of left field. Sure, Campbell had praised the undrafted rookie for impressing the coaching staff, but we’re talking about a D-II transfer who wasn’t even a full-time starter as a fifth-year senior at Ball State in 2023."

WHOA - the vaunted Ball State football powerhouse! Chirp chirp, bitches.

[Mainevent]

POD with a Denver media take on Patrick. To sum up - great dude, catches everything, makes contested catches, blocks to the whistle, looked good in pre-season but hard to say if he's all the way back with his explosiveness. Seems a good fit for this team - fingers crossed he can stay on the field.

https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2024/8/28/24230228/6qs-detroit-lions-tim-patrick-analysis-broncos-writer

[Cody_Russell]

Very much liking the direction of where this Lions secondary is going. At least when compared to the dumpster fire of a unit over the last several years since the Teryl Austin days. Holmes made it a priority this offseason and it looks ready to take the next step. The secondary appears to have depth and long term upside with guys like Arnold, Rakestraw Jr., Branch, and Joseph (etc). Now it does take time for young CBs to excel as we saw with Slay in 2013-2014. When is the last rookie outside CB that didn’t have ups and downs with the Lions? So much turnover too… we’ll see how long it takes the chemistry to come together. It was a BIG issue last season. Guys like Nick Mullens shredding the Lions defense. (Thank goodness for his INTs) … It’s going to be weird for us Lions fans to see competent secondary play assuming there isn’t an unexpected disappointment.

Pass rush and secondary play was the achilles heel of the 2023 Lions. The achilles heel for this 2024 Lions might be depth on offense at WR/ TE and OLine. Going to need injury luck there to take the next step as a team.