5 Detroit Lions who could be let go in upcoming crunch for roster spots

The young cornerbacks

5. CB Chase Lucas

Lucas has not played any defensive snaps this season, and he has been a healthy scratch in each of the last two games. Over his two seasons he has played just six defensive snaps, and his play on special teams has fallen off from last year to this year.

Lucas is still a promising player, but there's just not much of a role for him on this team right now. He chose to come back to the Lions over offers from other teams when he was waived late in the preseason, so if/when he's waived another team would likely claim him.

4. CB Steven Gilmore

Gilmore is a good story, as an undrafted rookie who earned a spot on the 53-man roster in camp. But he has played just three games this season (two defensive snaps, 12 special teams snaps), and he has not played at all since Week 7. He has also been usurped in the cornerback pecking order by Kindle Vildor and Khalil Dorsey as the Lions have searched for an answer to replace the struggling Jerry Jacobs.

Gilmore is someone the Lions would surely like to continue working with as a developmental prospect, but some tough decisions have to be made soon and letting him go is on the table.