5 Detroit Lions players who could lose their 53-man roster spot to Tim Patrick
The Detroit Lions have had a lingering need for a bigger-bodied receiver. The idea Josh Reynolds, named directly by Dan Campbell during the preseason as having an important role that hadn't been filled, could be replaced internally proved foolish. Tim Patrick and Allen Robinson were brought aboard on the practice squad to offer potential reinforcements.
Patrick was added to the active roster for last Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played more than expected (33 snaps), with two catches for 12 yards.
When asked about Patrick on Monday, Campbell made it pretty clear the veteran has earned a notable role in the Lions' offense moving forward.
"We liked him,” Campbell said. “It was good to see. I would say it was a positive showing. To be able to get him out there and implement him in some of what we were doing. It’d be nice to get him a little bit more (playing time)...“But I think that’s what we’ll do moving forward. I think the idea is to see if we can open this up a little bit and use him a little more. But, man, he’s big, he’s physical, (and) his catch radius is pretty enormous. So there’s a place for him here, and I see us using him moving forward.”
On the practice squad, Patrick could be poached by another team that's willing to sign him to their active roster-if he wants to take that opportunity. The Lions can elevate him from the practice squad two more times before they have to sign him to their 53-man roster, but it's also fair to assume they won't wait that long to do so.
So, to put it plainly, someone who is currently on the 53-man roster will have to be let go to make room for Patrick. It may even happen this week, if we can read into Campbell's comments on Monday at all.
These five players, when it comes down to it, look like easy options to make room for Patrick.