The Detroit Lions made their cuts to get down to 53 players on the initial active roster on Tuesday. Things can and will change before the season starts though, perhaps as soon as Wednesday. Some cuts were made due to procedural moves that involved a couple players' possible IR placement and having to keep them on the 53-man roster or their seasons would be over.
It would not be a surprise to see quite a few players the Lions let go signed or claimed off waivers by another team. That has already happened in one case, with offensive tackle Germain Ifedi signing with the Buffalo Bills. It's a testament to the talent level on the roster built by Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell. Not too long ago, a player the Lions' let go of may as well have had to consider other, non-football, career plans.
Campbell knew there would be a lot of tough roster decisions to make, and there just wasn't room for everyone. Fingers will be crossed at Allen Park that some players who were let go will make it through waivers unclaimed and be able to come back on the practice squad. The Lions head coach talked about that 16-man practice squad as an extension of the active roster.
Talking about the impending construction of the practice squad, Dan Campbell emphasized the importance of that group, noting many will end up playing in games for the Lions this season. Says he doesn't think of it as a 53-man roster, but more a 69-man roster.
— Justin Rogers (@Justin_Rogers) August 28, 2023
It's possible they are not done in a Lions' uniform, but these four guys land as surprising cuts.