The Detroit Lions roster cuts are finally kicking off, and the first moves are sending some serious signals about how tight their depth chart really is. Late Sunday afternoon, we saw veteran linebacker Troy Reeder get released, and tight end Zach Horton waived, according to reports from Dave Birkett and Nolan Bianchi. This isn’t just routine housekeeping, folks, this is the start of some brutal decisions for a team trying to finalize its squad.
Troy Reeder’s Cut Blows Open the LB Race
Let’s talk about Troy Reeder first. This isn’t some rookie getting a quick exit; we’re talking about a seven-year veteran here, a guy with significant special teams experience and a solid 38 career starts under his belt. He was absolutely legitimate competition for a final roster spot. You’d think a player with that kind of resume, especially after Damone Clark hit injured reserve, would have a leg up, right? But nope. He didn’t win the battle. This tells you everything you need to know about the intensity of the competition in Detroit’s linebacker room.
The fact that Reeder, with his experience, couldn’t secure a spot means the other guys fighting for those depth positions are pushing hard. Joe Bachie, Amen Ogbongbemiga, Trevor Nowaske, and undrafted rookie Erick Hunter are still in contention, and they must be showing out in a big way for the Lions to let a seasoned vet like Reeder walk. The good news for Reeder is he’s a veteran, so he’s not subject to waivers. He can sign anywhere he wants, even potentially coming back to Detroit’s practice squad if it makes sense for both sides. That flexibility is huge, but it still stings to see a guy with his background get cut before the season even starts.
Zach Horton’s Exit and the TE Outlook
Then we’ve got tight end Zach Horton being waived. This one wasn’t much of a shocker, honestly. He’d already been waived once during this training camp. It’s a tough grind for undrafted guys trying to make it, and sometimes the numbers just don’t work out. Horton did show a flash, putting together a handful of good fullback reps in the preseason finale on Saturday. You always want to see players making an impact, even in those last chances, and he clearly did.
Like many young players, Horton will now be subject to waivers. If he clears, there’s a path back to the practice squad, just like he did last year after being cut as an undrafted rookie. What does his waiving tell us about the tight end competition overall? Not much, really. It seems more like a depth move, a natural trimming of the roster as we get closer to the real deal. The big names are likely settled, and this is just part of sorting out the back end of the depth chart.
These initial cuts are just the beginning, a clear sign that the Lions aren’t messing around. The battle for those final roster spots is going to be fierce. You gotta keep following their 2026 tracker to see what other moves they make. Every decision right now shapes the team’s identity moving forward, and for the players still fighting, every practice, every rep, every moment on the field, it all matters. The stakes couldn’t be higher.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pride of Detroit.
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