The Detroit Lions may make a surprise cut or two before Tuesday afternoon, and one has landed. According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, wide receiver Dylan Drummond will be waived.
Drummond, an undrafted rookie out of Eastern Michigan, was signed by the Lions after a rookie minicamp tryout. He followed that by standing out in training camp, and he had nine receptions in the preseason--including five tough grabs in the preseason finale, which seemed likely to clinch a spot on the 53-man roster for himself.
As Birkett suggested, Drummond would be a top candidate to land back on the Lions' practice squad if he clears waivers. If he clears waivers, which is hardly a guarantee as the other 31 teams get down to 53 players themselves and see who has been let go around the league. If another team doesn't put a claim in on Drummond, that would be pretty surprising.
Why did the Detroit Lions waive Dylan Drummond?
Beyond the top four roster locks (Amon-Ra St. Brown, Marvin Jones, Kalif Raymond, Josh Reynolds), the Lions have one or possibly two (when accounting for Jameson Williams' suspension) spots on the 53-man roster for a wide receiver to take going into the season. Drummond, fellow UDFA Chase Cota, rookie seventh-round pick Antoine Green and Maurice Alexander were the chief competitors for those one or two spots.
Without a huge offensive role if everyone else is healthy, Drummond would have to be a key special teams contributor at the Lions' fifth wide receiver. He did not get much run as a return man during the preseason, especially compared to Alexander, the former standout return man in the XFL who had a punt return touchdown in the first preseason game. The special team element seems to have been a factor in the decision to waive Drummond, and for the Lions to take a chance he can be gotten back on the practice squad.
Drummond was one of the best stories of 2023 Lions' training camp. At least for now, that story is over.