The Detroit Lions made a couple roster moves on Tuesday, picking up defensive lineman John Cominsky off waivers and cutting kicker Aldrick Rosas.
On the last day of May, the Detroit Lions tweaked a spot on their roster. According to the team’s announcement, defensive lineman John Cominsky has been picked up off waivers from the Atlanta Falcons. In a corresponding move, kicker Aldrick Rosas was cut.
Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network was first to report the Lions being awarded Cominsky off waivers.
Cominsky was a fourth-round pick (No. 135 overall) by Atlanta in 2019 out of Division II University of Charleston (West Virginia). He didn’t play much over three seasons for the Falcons, as he registered 1.5 sacks over 27 games and 511 defensive snaps. Last season, after a coaching change, he played four games with 13 defensive snaps and 48 special teams snaps. Given how poor Atlanta’s defense has been, even with a coaching change in 2021, that Cominsky couldn’t get on the field more consistently says something–and it’s not good.
The Falcons waived Cominsky last week. With the second-highest waiver claim priority, the Lions pretty much weren’t going to be trumped if they put in a claim on him.
Cominsky got some attention from the previous regime in Detroit during the 2019 pre-draft process. And according to Chris Burke of The Athletic, the Rams (when Lions general manager Brad Holmes was there of course) had a pre-draft meeting with Cominsky that year. He tested out incredibly well athletically.
With pick 135 in the 2019 NFL Draft, the #Falcons select John Cominsky, DE, Charleston.
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 27, 2019
John Cominsky posted a Elite #RAS with Elite size, Good speed, Good explosiveness, Great agility at the DE position. pic.twitter.com/lhsvhBQMqH
Lions pick up John Cominsky, and notably narrow kicker competition to two
More notably than the Lions adding a defensive lineman who may not even stick, the Lions are now no longer carrying three kickers.
Rosas kicked in one game for the Lions last season as they cycled through some options, making his lone extra point and field goal attempts. Riley Patterson ultimately stepped in and settled things down, making 13 of his 14 field goals and all 16 of his extra points in seven games. Austin Seibert is the other kicker left on the Lions’ roster now.
The Lions will assume Cominsky’s contract, slated to pay him $965,000 this year in the final year of his rookie contract. They will not lose any cap room if they cut him before the season.