Detroit Lions : 5 Players Who May Not Be Back In 2016

Joique Bell

Joique Bell quickly captured the hearts of fans and became a fan favorite. His bruising running style seemed like a metaphor for the blue collar working people of Detroit. In his first season with the Lions, Bell averaged 5 yards per carry and had a combined 897 yards from scrimmage to go along with 3 touchdowns. He would follow that up by gaining 2,379 yards from scrimmage to go with 16 total touchdowns over the next two seasons.

Prior to the 2015 season, Bell had several minor surgeries. He returned claiming he was 100% healthy and ready for a breakout season, claiming he would gain 1,200+ yards on the ground. Those aspirations never became a reality as Bell would struggle to see much playing time due to nagging injuries and the emergence of both Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick.

He is a local product (Wayne State) and fans may be upset, but Joique’s time in Detroit should be over. He is due to make $3.5 million this season, but cutting him only costs $1 million in dead cap money leaving $2.5 million to dedicate toward the 2016 salary cap.

Next: Rashean Mathis