The Detroit Lions have released quarterback David Fales on Tuesday. With his exodus, does the hazy backup situation in the Motor City get any clearer?
The Detroit Lions absolutely know who their starting quarterback is. After signing Matthew Stafford to a massive five-year contract extension worth $135 million exactly two years, making him the highest-paid player in NFL history at the time, the Lions made a firm commitment to Stafford for the foreseeable future.
Still, the backup quarterback situation has consistently been an issue in Detroit. And this season is no different. In the offseason, the Lions signed two journeyman veteran quarterbacks in Tom Savage and David Fales.
Unfortunately, Savage suffered a concussion in the Lions’ preseason opener versus the New England Patriots and hasn’t played since. He just returned to practice on Monday, that according to the Detroit Free Press. Due to his absence, the Lions’ opted to sign 33-year old quarterback Josh Johnson.
As for Fales, the 28-year old sandwiched one solid performance in the preseason between two terrible ones. Against the Buffalo Bills last week, Fales completed just 3 of his 8 passes (37.5 percent) for 22 yards. He was replaced by Johnson who would show better command of the offense despite being on the team for only two weeks.
On Tuesday, the Lions officially released Fales, that according to Pro Football Talk. In a corresponding move, Detroit signed former Alliance of American Football (AAF) quarterback Luis Perez. Undrafted out of Texas A&M-Commerce last year, Perez spent time with the Los Angeles Rams before landing with the Birmingham Iron of the AAF. After the league folded, he joined the Philadelphia Eagles for about a month this offseason.
The move to release David Fales and replace him with Luis Perez is likely due to practice squad eligibility. A five-year NFL veteran, Fales was unlikely eligible to be placed on the practice squad and was destined to be released this weekend regardless. In Perez, the Lions’ get a free look at a player they have the option to stash away.
The race to become the primary backup for Matthew Stafford is now between Tom Savage and Josh Johnson, although the Detroit Lions may simply decide to keep them both on their final roster.