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Lions Sign Damian Copeland

By Jeff Risdon

Jul 31, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Damian Copeland (83) takes the field during training camp workouts at Florida Blue Health & Wellness Practice Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 31, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Damian Copeland (83) takes the field during training camp workouts at Florida Blue Health & Wellness Practice Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 31, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Damian Copeland (83) takes the field during training camp workouts at Florida Blue Health & Wellness Practice Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 31, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Damian Copeland (83) takes the field during training camp workouts at Florida Blue Health & Wellness Practice Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

The Detroit Lions made another roster move on Tuesday, signing free agent wideout Damian Copeland.

As noted by Mike Rothstein, the corollary move was waiving undrafted free agent guard Andrew Zeller.

Copeland has not played in the NFL, though he is not a rookie. He spent each of the last two seasons on injured reserve with the Jacksonville Jaguars after being an undrafted free agent out of Louisville.

Injuries have dogged the 5’11”, 180-pound wideout for years. He missed a plethora of games during his time at Louisville, enough that he earned a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA. When healthy, he hooked up with Teddy Bridgewater to lead the Cardinals in receptions in both 2012 and ’13. Copeland primarily worked the intermediate routes while Devante Parker stretched the field and was the primary playmaker.

A quote from his draft profile at NFL.com,

"STRENGTHSMakes good adjustments to the ball and has a fairly wide catching radius. Runs with urgency after the catch and carries a swagger. Solid production — two-time team-leading receiver. Has a 40-inch vertical jump and recorded the best three-cone time (6.53 seconds) of any receiver at the combine.WEAKNESSESLimited functional strength to escape tight press coverage. Lacks a feel for coverage to beat zones. Can be fazed by traffic — will alter his routes and make some concentration drops. Not a nuanced route runner and creates little separation with savvy — gears down out of his breaks and gives up break points. Struggles to escape man coverage. Not creative after the catch. Soft blocker — does not finish."

My own notes echo those sentiments. I noted his poor routes and timidity with contact. His small frame was a big concern.

Ostensibly he will compete for the slot receiver role in Detroit. It’s an uphill battle; the Lions are freakishly deep–though not necessarily talented–at slot receiver with Jeremy Kerley, TJ Jones, Austin Willis and Jace Billingsley. That’s not even mentioning Golden Tate or Theo Riddick, or even Eric Ebron.

If he can stay healthy, Copeland might last as long as the second preseason game.

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