The Detroit Lions announced a slew of roster moves on Saturday afternoon. The headliner was safety Ifeatu Melifonwu being activated from IR, and a co-headliner was running back David Montgomery not being placed on IR.
A move that was a bit eye-opening was safety Brandon Joseph being waived. The second-year former undrafted free agent had become a key piece on special teams, and the third safety for the Lions behind Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch. Activating Melifonwu, who remains questionable for Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears, was surely not enough on its own to warrant waiving Joseph. Rookie safety Loren Strickland was also elevated from the practice squad to the active roster on Saturday.
Here are the other roster moves the Lions made on Saturday:
Wide receiver Maurice Alexander was also waived.
Defensive lineman David Bada was waived from IR with an injury settlement.
Running back Jermar Jefferson was elevated from the practice squad.
Edge rusher Mitchell Agude, defensive lineman Chris Smith and wide receiver Tom Kennedy were signed to the active roster from the practice squad.
#Lions announce roster moves:
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) December 21, 2024
Waived S Brandon Joseph and WR Maurice Alexander.
Waived DL David Bada from Reserve/Injured with an Injury Settlement.
Activated S Ifeatu Melifonwu from Reserve/Injured (Remains listed as Questionable on Game Status Report).
Signed OLB…
Lions waived Brandon Joseph after early Saturday arrest
John Maakaron of SI.com was first to report it, and Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reported additional details. Joseph was arrested for suspicion of operating under the influence by Dearborn Heights (MI) police early on Saturday morning.
Per Birkett:
"Paul Vanderplow, DHPD director, said Joseph was pulled over for speeding on Michigan Avenue around 1:47 a.m. Saturday and taken into custody "for a few hours" before he was released. Joseph was traveling over the posted speed limit "but it was not excessive speed," Vanderplow said.
"He was very compliant, he was very respectful," Vanderplow said. "He went through the battery of tests, through those tests now we have some analysis to go through before charges can be done, as we do with any other suspicion of OUI. He'll go through that process, and then go through the court process like anybody else."
"Vanderplow said he did not know if Joseph took a breathalyzer test or what the results were, but said police did a blood draw after Joseph's arrest."
Dearborn Heights police tell me Brandon Joseph, who was waived by the Lions this afternoon, was pulled over for speeding on Michigan Avenue and arrested for suspicion of operating under the influence. They stress he was completely compliant, detained and released
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) December 21, 2024
Maakaron and Birkett both reported the Lions declined comment later on Saturday, with Maakaron noting how it was cited by a team spokesperson that Joseph is no longer on the team.
The Lions have shown a zero tolerance-policy for players who are arrested or wanted for arrest. So with that in mind, it's not surprising Joseph was quickly waived on Saturday.