5 former Detroit Lions who might be done in the NFL

As rosters take shape heading into and through 2022 training camps, these five former Detroit Lions might be done in the NFL.

The Detroit Lions have a light week of OTAs this week, then it’ll be on to training camp. Outside of a few possible small tweaks, and one spot to fill, the 90-man roster will be pretty much as it is now when training camp starts next month.

Mandatory minicamps are still going on this week in the NFL. But barring a few possible moves involving notable names (Baker Mayfield, Jimmy Garoppolo), rosters will pretty much be as they are heading into training camps.

What that means broadly is veteran players who are yet unsigned are awaiting an opportunity that may not come at this point, or awaiting a call that’ll ultimately be brought about by an injury. The latter is obviously not an ideal way to get a chance, but it might be the only chance for some.

These former Detroit Lions are not yet signed with a team, or down a roster enough to be on tenuous ground. Getting right down to it, they might be done in the NFL.

5 former Detroit Lions who might be done in the NFL

5. TE Darren Fells

Fells asked the Lions to release him last November, which they did as a favor to the veteran tight end. He landed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and played in two regular season games.

Fells also spent the 2017 season with the Lions, and now 36 years old he has played for five teams over eight NFL seasons. He has been somewhat of a red zone threat, as one might be standing 6-foot-7, but otherwise he has mostly operated as a part-time player and extra blocker in his career.

Given the fact he didn’t play college football, and played pro basketball internationally for years after college, Fells having an NFL career at all makes him a cool story and eight seasons is quite an accomplishment. But eight might be enough, and all he gets.