Detroit Lions: Michael Roberts trade falls through, waived anyway
The Detroit Lions traded tight end Michael Roberts to the Patriots. After that trade fell through, Motown opted to waive him anyway.
It’s clear, the Detroit Lions no longer wanted to be in the Michael Roberts‘ business. The Lions traded the third-year tight end on Thursday to the New England Patriots for minimal compensation, a conditional seventh-round selection in 2020.
On Friday, the word came down that the trade had been rescinded. Although no official reason for the cancellation of the move has been released, it is being reported by ESPN that Roberts did not pass his physical. He was coming off a season-ending shoulder injury.
So Roberts returned to Detroit’s roster officially on Friday. He was then promptly waived by Detroit.
For the Lions, the situation at tight end remains unchanged. Roberts was a long shot to make the team following their various additions in the offseason. Last year’s trio of Luke Willson, Levine Toilolo and Roberts are no longer on the roster.
Instead, Detroit will go into training camp with newcomers T.J. Hockenson, Jesse James, Logan Thomas and Isaac Nauta battling it out at the tight end position.
As for Roberts, the 25-year old should find another opportunity to continue his NFL career. Perhaps still with the Patriots. A 2017 fourth-round selection out of Toledo, Roberts showed promise when he posted a stat-line of 45 receptions for 533 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior.
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Unfortunately, the 6-foot-5, 265-pound tight end struggled to match that production at the NFL level in his first two seasons. Michael Roberts was only targeted seven times his rookie season, recording four catches for 46 yards. He had an opportunity to win the starting job last year with the exodus of former first-rounder Eric Ebron. But he failed to earn that role posting nine receptions for 100 yards and three scores in an injury-shorten second season.