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.
4 most surprising cuts for the Detroit Lions on their initial 53-man roster
4. RB Bennie Snell
Snell was a core special teamer for the Steelers the last few years, which made him an easy candidate to make the Lions' roster, even as the No. 4 running back (not counting Jason Cabinda). He did not get much notable run in preseason games, but he did fairly well when he did get on the field (4.6 yards per carry running behind lackluster backup offensive lineman).
Snell could wind up back with the Lions, even possibly on the practice squad with room for someone with his experience level there. But letting him go in roster-cut gymnastics was a surprise.
3. WR Dylan Drummond
Drummond was a camp standout, and he seemed to seal his spot on the 53-man roster when he showed his mettle as an all-around receiver with five catches in the preseason finale. But the Lions waived him, taking a real chance he will go through unclaimed and be an option for the practice squad. It will be a surprise if none of the other 31 teams put in a claim on him.
With initial roster semantics in mind, the Lions kept five wide receivers on their initial 53 and rookie seventh-rounder Antoine Green was No. 5 after his own performance in the preseason finale.
Waiving Drummond could come back to bite the Lions, if they just assumed he'll clear waivers and come back to them.
2. CB Starling Thomas
Thomas was an instant candidate to make the Lions' roster as a UDFA, and he did not disappoint with his performance in camp and his play on defense and special team during the preseason. But he did have some issues with penalties; holding and grabbing issues that will not fly in the NFL. That may have ultimately been the biggest thing that pushed him off the roster when it came to making a tough decision.
The activation of Emmanuel Moseley from the PUP list meant someone else had to give in the Lions' cornerback room. Thomas was pretty clearly that someone, but if he makes it through waivers he'll definitely be back on the Lions' practice squad.
Update: Thomas was claimed off waivers by the Arizona Cardinals.
The Cardinals claimed a league-high 6 players off of waivers:
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) August 30, 2023
C Trystan Colon
TE Elijah Higgins
C Keith Ishmael
T Ilm Manning
DB Starling Thomas
DB K'Von Wallace
1. RB Craig Reynolds
Reynolds landed as a potential surprise cut for us, and on Tuesday it happened. But the Lions only kept two running backs on their initial roster (still not counting Jason Cabinda), and a move to add someone is a guarantee before the season starts. The aforementioned possible IR placement of Julian Okwara and/or Ifeatu Melifonwu will open a roster spot in short order.
Re-signing Reynolds would be the most seamless move to add a running back, since he's obviously a familar face. Nice performances in each of the last two preseason games seemed to lock him into the No. 3 running back spot, and that remains the case even if he's not currently on the roster as the proverbial RB3.
The Lions may have released Reynolds (he is not subject to waivers) with an understanding they will just quickly re-sign him. Another team could swoop in, but he may turn them away within knowing he's coming back as soon as it's palatable.
So while he's No. 1 on this list of surprise cuts, Reynolds is also the most likely (and easiest) to wind up back with the Lions.