SATURDAY, 11:35am: The organization has officially waived Wright, according to the team’s transaction log.
THURSDAY, 3:34pm: The Lions have waived/injured tight end Tim Wright, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (on Twitter). Wright was acquired by Detroit last August via trade from the Buccaneers and re-signed this March.
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Wright, 26, made his NFL mark in 2013 with an impressive rookie year, racking up 54 receptions, 571 yards, and five touchdowns for the Buccaneers. However, he has changed teams twice since then – first traded to New England, then claimed off waivers by Detroit – and has seen his role reduced along the way. In 2015, he caught just nine balls for 77 yards and two TDs for the Lions.
While financial terms of Wright’s March agreement were not disclosed, we do know that he was eligible for restricted free agency this offseason, and wasn’t offered a contract tender by the Lions. A low-end RFA tender would have been worth $1.671MM, so it’s reasonable to assume that his one-year deal was worth less than that — likely for the minimum salary, or close to it.
With Wright out of the picture, the Lions now have five tight ends on the depth chart:Eric Ebron, Brandon Pettigrew, and Matthew Mulligan plus rookies Adam Fuehne and Cole Wick.
Wright was expected to have the opportunity to earn a roster spot and possibly compete for playing time for Detroit in 2016. Now, he’ll try to do the same thing with a new team – once he gets healthy.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
“The organization was officially waived Wright.”