The Detroit Lions just opened up two empty spots on their 53-man roster, waiving running back Jabari Small and backup center Seth McLaughlin on Wednesday. This isn’t some random housekeeping move, folks. These guys made the initial roster, so something bigger is brewing in Detroit as Week 1 approaches.
The “Why” Behind the Roster Shake-Up
Why would a team cut players who initially made the 53-man squad? It’s not just about finding shiny new talent, though that’s always a possibility. The more likely story here is that both Small and McLaughlin were battling injuries. Think about it: instead of doing the whole waive/injury dance, putting them on injured reserve, and then having to cut them later with an injury settlement, the Lions apparently played the long game. They waited until Small and McLaughlin got healthy, then waived them. The hope? Get ‘em back on the practice squad if they clear waivers, which would be a smart move to keep depth available.
Who Fills Those Spots?
So, if that’s the play, who’s stepping up to fill those suddenly available spots? The most obvious move would be bringing up players already chilling on the practice squad. Tom Kennedy is the standout here, practically already named punt returner after the surprise release of Greg Dortch. That move for Kennedy feels like a no-brainer.
Lions GM Brad Holmes also dropped a big hint on Wednesday about the wide receiver room, too. He said, “Four (receivers) is obviously a little bit on the lighter side. That’s just where we’re at right now today, currently.” That tells you everything you need to know: they’re not done tinkering with their pass-catching options. That second spot is a bit trickier to pin down, though. The Lions have some serious defensive talent stashed on the practice squad, like cornerback Nick Whiteside and defensive linemen Chris Smith and Ben Stille. Don’t forget Joe Bachie, especially if rookie linebacker Jimmy Rolder isn’t ready to roll for Week 1. If two practice squad guys get bumped up to the 53-man roster, it conveniently opens up practice squad spots for Small and McLaughlin, assuming they clear waivers. But hey, let’s not rule out a surprise. Detroit has only grabbed one external player since final cuts, offensive lineman Elijah Klein, who used to be with the Buccaneers. They could always be cooking up something similar again.
This isn’t just some bureaucratic roster reshuffle. This is the Lions making some strategic chess moves, trying to get the right pieces in place and manage those injury situations smart before the games count. It’ll be wild to see which names get called up to that 53-man roster and what impact they have right out of the gate for Week 1. The Lions are clearly trying to stack their deck.
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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