John Atkins‘ stint with the Lions has come to an end. The team announced this evening (on Twitter) that they’ve waived the defensive tackle.
The former Georgia standout went undrafted in 2018, and after getting picked up by the Patriots, he was dumped at the end of the preseason. He ended up catching on with the Lions, and he spent much of his rookie campaign on Detroit’s practice squad.
He saw a much larger role in 2019, appearing in 12 games (six starts). He got into 36-percent of his team’s defensive snaps that season, finishing with 20 tackles. The six-foot-three, 320-pound lineman ended up sitting out the 2020 season due to COVID concerns.
Atkins’ spot on the roster seemed to be in risk following Detroit’s offseason moves. The team added Michael Brockers via trade and Nick Williams via a two-year pact, and they drafted a pair of defensive tackles in second-rounder Levi Onwuzurike and third-rounder Alim McNeill.
John John could be an excellent addition to any team that needs a strong, big-bodied nose tackle on their DL. Atkins plays excellent against the run, takes on DTs well, and can even get a little pressure from his NT position.
He might not play but maybe a third of a team’s plays, but he can definitely make a difference stopping the running game. Personally, I don’t think he will he without a job very long..