On Tuesday, the Detroit Lions waived defensive tackle Isaiah Buggs, after he teased as much on Twitter earlier in the day. On Wednesday morning, here's what edge rusher Bruce Irvin posted on Twitter.
" @ Lions-as a 12 year vet, thank you for the opportunity to be apart of your team- however I’m looking forward to what’s next."
Nothing will be official until later in the day on Wednesday, when the team will presumably announces it. But like Buggs did a day earlier, Irvin has declared he's moving on to the next phase of his career.
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported the Lions and Irvin have mutually agreed to part ways.
A mutual parting on good terms for Bruce Irvin and the #Lions, who released him from the practice squad today. https://t.co/srGuqR9OSx
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 3, 2024
Update, Jan. 3, 1:45 p.m. ET: The Lions have officially released Irvin.
#Lions released LB Bruce Irvin from the Practice Squad.
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) January 3, 2024
The Lions signed Irvin to their practice squad in mid-November. He made his debut in Week 13 against the New Orleans Saints, registering a sack in that game. He has been elevated to active roster three times, exhausting his number of elevations before he'd have to be signed to the 53-man roster during the regular season.
Instead of making the move to add him to the active roster, the Lions will part with Irvin. They could have kept him on the practice squad going into the playoffs, and elevated him as many times as they wanted in the postseason without ever having to add him to the 53-man roster.
Practice squad flexibility comes with move to part with Bruce Irvin
Waiving Irvin (once it's official) opens up a spot on the practice squad. With the aforementioned playoff practice squad elevation rule in mind, that's a spot the Lions can surely put to use with the number of injured players they'll have to make room for.
James Houston is in line to come off IR soon, if not this week than surely before the Lions' Wild Card Round playoff game. So it seems they are fine with having him to fill the pass rusher role Irvin had been filling.
It's unclear if Irvin will land on another playoff team, but it seems like he thinks there's a chance if parting with the Lions is indeed mutual.