On Tuesday, the Detroit Lions announced two roster moves. Linebacker David Long was waived, and wide receiver Maurice Alexander was re-signed to the practice squad as he continues to do quite the transaction dance.
The Lions signed Long to their practice squad a little over a month ago, after Alex Anzalone suffered a broken forearm in Week 11 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was active for each of the last five games, totaling 70 defensive snaps, 58 special teams snaps while tallying seven tackles and a fumble recovery as part of a rotation at WILL linebacker.
Anthony Pittman was brought back off the Jacksonville Jaguars' practice squad last week, which can now be seen as the first sign Long might not be long for the Lions' roster. In Week 16 against the Chicago Bears, Pittman played 11 defensive snaps to Long's zero.
If Long clears waivers, it's possible he's brought back on the practice squad. But the move to waive him is broadly a good sign.
Waiving David Long provides optimism of looming linebacker returns
After head coach Dan Campbell hadn't sounded very optimistic about when or if he would return from a neck injury, linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin returned to practice last Thursday to start his 21-day activation window from IR.
When asked about players on IR possibly making or working towards a return this week on Monday, Campbell noted Reeves-Maybin.
“We’ll see where Germ (Reeves-Maybin) is at. He’s somebody that’s a potential candidate (to return), Jalen Reeves-Maybin,” Campbell said. “We started him last week, he got a practice or two, we’re going to give him more this week, see how he feels, where it’s at. He is somebody that could potentially be brought up.”
Anzalone had an original 6-8 week recovery timetable, and it's easily expected he'll be ready to go for the playoffs. On Monday Campbell confirmed Anzalone is close to returning, but this week is a question mark. He can be activated from IR whenever he is deemed to be ready.
"It’s close. I don’t know about this week, (but) it’s close,” Campbell said.
The Lions' linebacking corps has been particularly hit by injuries, with Anzalone, Reeves-Maybin, Derrick Barnes and Malcolm Rodriguez all missing significant time. But there is depth, apparently satisfactory depth in the team's eyes, with the welcome returns of Anzalone and Reeves-Maybin coming soon.