Amid several adjustments to the Lions roster and practice squad Saturday, Kenny Wiggins learned of his release. The Lions cut the veteran guard ahead of their Week 7 game.
The team dropped Wiggins and cornerback Chris Jones from its active roster and activated running back Bo Scarbrough and defensive back Mike Ford from IR. The Lions also promoted tight end Isaac Nauta from its practice squad.
A third-year Lion, Wiggins serves as the most notable move here. He started 10 games for the 2018 squad and worked in a three-guard rotation with Joe Dahl and Graham Glasgow last season, playing 41% of Detroit’s offensive snaps. This season, however, Wiggins has not factored into the team’s work up front. He has played one offensive snap in four games, playing only on special teams.
Wiggins began the season on Detroit’s practice squad but was promoted to the active roster ahead of Week 2. Despite Dahl being placed on IR at that point, Wiggins did not see O-line action. The Lions identified a starter in third-round rookie Jonah Jackson as well, and Wiggins — a four-year Chargers contributor and 16-game starter in 2017 — is now a free agent.
Scarbrough played a key role for the Lions down the stretch last season, filling in for an injured Kerryon Johnson. The power back rushed for 377 yards and a touchdown in six games. But the Lions drafted D’Andre Swift and signed Adrian Peterson this year, and Scarbrough landed on IR. He has not dressed for a Lions game this season.
Detroit’s offensive line has been surprisingly good thus far. Tyrell Cosby and Joe Dahl have performed admirably at right tackle and guard respectively. Jonah Jackson has been adequate as a spot starter and Decker/Ragnow remain stout as usual. Ironically, Vatai, their big-money free agent acquisition, has arguably been the weakest link. Still, that is certainly an enviable situation considering the dearth of offensive line talent across the league
I don’t think anybody outside of Detroit expected Vaitai to suddenly become good
The Jaguars defense can make almost any OL appear surprisingly good.
The Lions O-line play has been pretty decent in all 6 games thus far, not just against JAX. The 2 lineman we drafted (Jackson and Stenberg) filled a void and Wiggins wasn’t needed anymore. That’s one area that Bob Quinn has actually done a pretty good job of drafting is O-line. You figure the 2 previous I mentioned along with Decker and Ragnow to go with Tyrel Crosby and that’s a pretty nice start to a line. I hate on Quinn alot but have to give him props where their due.