The Lions just made it very clear they’re about to make two moves to add to their roster
Detroit waived Seth McLaughlin and Jabari Small hours after Holmes discussed a light receiver room and an unsettled offensive line.
The Detroit Lions are gearing up to make moves. Detroit waived center Seth McLaughlin and running back Jabari Small on Wednesday, opening two spots on the Lions’ 53-man roster just hours after general manager Brad Holmes held his preseason press conference. The timing tells you everything you need to know. The Lions aren’t done building this roster.
You have to wonder what they’re going to do with those spots. There are a couple of different ways to think about this.
Wide receiver could be the priority
For starters, Holmes talked about the Lions probably not being done at wide receiver. There are some names out there worth watching. Maurice Alexander, a former Lion who was a strong return man for Detroit, is available after the Bears decided not to pick him up. There’s also Brandin Cooks, who has played with quarterback Jared Goff before. Holmes and assistant GM Ray Agnew are both familiar with his game from their time in Los Angeles.
Or is it going to be as simple as moving Tom Kennedy, Dominic Lovett, or Lucky Jackson up to the 53-man roster from the practice squad? That’s a real possibility, but if the Lions go that route, they’ll still need to bring in two new practice squad players. Either way, new faces are coming.
Guard is still an open competition
Dan Campbell talked about guard at the end of one of his last pressers, saying that the player who could be fighting for the left guard job might not even be on the team yet. That’s a significant statement. Despite Christian Mahogany slotting in at left guard for Week 1, Detroit could look outside for competition.
There are still free agent guards sitting out there waiting to be signed. Maybe the Lions go back to guys like Laken Tomlinson or Will Hernandez and bring one of them in as an extra guard on the 53-man roster to battle alongside Ben Bartch and Mahogany for that spot.
Running back is another option
There’s also the running back question. Maybe this is where Detroit signs Kareem Hunt because the Lions don’t know if Isiah Pacheco is going to come back. Or maybe they sign one of the other running backs available on the market. The position group still has some uncertainty, and adding a veteran would make sense.
What it all means
The Lions could also bring Nick Whiteside back onto the 53-man roster, but that still leaves practice squad spots to fill. No matter which direction Detroit goes, the team is bringing in two new players relatively soon. They’re either going to land on the 53-man roster or the practice squad, and where they land will determine how big of an impact they have in Detroit.
Make no mistake: the Lions are gearing up for moves, and they’re coming soon.
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