Detroit Lions trim roster ahead of 53-man roster deadline
(CBS DETROIT) - The Detroit Lions worked to cut down their roster to 53 players ahead of Tuesday's 4 p.m. deadline.
A notable cut with Detroit roots was veteran wide receiver Donavan Peoples-Jones. He was selected by the Browns in the sixth round of the 2020 draft. The Lions traded for him last year.
Another name on the cut list was quarterback Nate Sudfeld. His release paves the way for Hendon Hooker to be the backup quarterback for Jared Goff. Sudfeld was Goff's backup in 2022 before suffering a season-long injury last season.
Here is the full list of moves made by the team Tuesday:
Released
- CB Essang Bassey
- WR Daurice Fountain
- CB Javelin Guidry
- LB Joel Iyiegbuniwe
- T Jamarco Jones
- WR Tom Kennedy
- TE Sean McKeon
- S C.J. Moore
- DL Pat O'Connor
- DL Kyle Peko
- WR Donovan Peoples-Jones
- QB Nate Sudfeld
- LB Ty Summers
Waived
- LB Mitchell Agude
- WR Maurice Alexander
- LB Abraham Beauplan
- DL Mathieu Betts
- DL David Bada
- G Jake Burton
- WR Jalon Calhoun
- OL Duke Clemens
- LS Scott Daly
- WR Kaden Davis
- C Kingsley Eguakun
- QB Jake Fromm
- RB Jake Funk
- S Chelen Garnes
- CB Steven Gilmore
- C Bryan Hudson
- RB Jermar Jefferson
- RB Zonovan Knight
- TE James Mitchell
- DL Chris Smith
- DL Isaac Ukwu
- CB Rachad Wildgoose
- TE Shane Zylstra
According to the league, players who have been in the league for four or more years are released and immediately become free agents. Players with less than four years of service must be put on the waiver wire.
The team will likely look at the waiver wire for players cut by other teams. Some players cut by Detroit may also be signed to the practice squad.
The team also announced offensive lineman Christian Mahogany was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list. Defensive lineman Brodric Martin and cornerback Emmanuel Moseley were placed on injured reserve. Those three players will miss at least the first four games of the regular season.
The Lions kick off their season against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Sept. 8.