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Detroit Lions News & Rumors

Lions Place RB Tra Carson On IR

November 2nd, 2019 at 3:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

Another change for the Lions’ running back group. The team’s starter in the first game following Kerryon Johnson‘s IR designation, Tra Carson will now join the team’s original 2019 starter on the Lions’ IR list.

The Lions sent Carson to IR, effectively ending the recent waiver claim’s season. Detroit promoted running back Paul Perkins to take Carson’s roster spot.

Carson worked through two limited practices this week with a hamstring injury, so this could lead to an injury settlement once the ex-Packer is healthy. Carson finished his Week 8 start with 12 carries for 34 yards in the Lions’ 31-26 win over the Giants.

A former Giant, Perkins came to Detroit as a waiver claim earlier this season. The Lions were able to pass the UCLA product through to their practice squad recently but will bring him back to their 53-man roster because of more backfield injury trouble. He took C.J. Anderson‘s roster spot. The Lions’ backfield now consists of sixth-round rookie Ty Johnson, ex-Seahawk J.D. McKissic and Perkins.

NFL Workout Updates: 11/1/19

November 1st, 2019 at 8:41pm CST by Marc Delucchi

The latest from the workout circuit around the league:

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Jacksonville Jaguars

New York Jets

Oakland Raiders

Lions Work Out RB Jay Ajayi

November 1st, 2019 at 11:31am CST by Zachary Links

The Lions will work out running back Jay Ajayi on Friday, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Ajayi, one of the most intriguing free agents in the NFL, could provide an immediate boost for a team in need of backfield help. 

[RELATED: Lions, Falcons Discussed Devonta Freeman Trade]

Before his injury-shortened 2018, Ajayi posted two strong back-to-back campaigns. In 2016, he earned his first career Pro Bowl nod as he averaged 4.9 yards per carry for the Dolphins. In 2017, a midseason trade sent him to the Eagles, where he averaged 5.8 yards per tote off of 70 tries and captured his first ever Super Bowl ring. The advanced metrics echo the traditional stats, too: Ajayi is one of the best RBs in the league, when he’s on the field.

The Lions have been after running back support since Kerryon Johnson hit the injured reserve list in October. That search pointed them towards Devonta Freeman and other running backs prior to Tuesday’s trade deadline, but they weren’t able to get a deal done.

The Lions are 3-3-1 heading into Sunday’s game against the Raiders. After that, they’ll round out November with games against the Bears, Cowboys, Redskins, and Bears (again).

Darius Slay “Wouldn’t Mind” Staying With Lions

October 31st, 2019 at 8:25am CST by Zachary Links

Lions cornerback Darius Slay says he “wouldn’t mind,” staying put, as Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press writes. This comes just after a long stretch of trade speculation surrounding the 28-year-old and a week full of rumors linking him to the Eagles. 

“I wouldn’t mind playing my whole career here,” Slay said. “Who wouldn’t want to just play on one team? But it’s a whole business. Can’t have your hopes up.”

Things haven’t necessarily been rosy between the Lions and Slay as of late. The cornerback was irate after the club traded starting safety Quandre Diggs to the Seahawks for a 2020 fifth-round draft pick, which likely prompted the Lions to start shopping him. During all of that, the Lions made an offer for Broncos star Chris Harris, who would have stepped in as his replacement.

When asked if he was hoping for a fresh start somewhere else, Slay expressed indifference:

“I don’t care,” he said. “I’m a millionaire, dude.”

Slay, who is midway through his seventh pro season, is under contract through 2020 under the four-year, $48MM deal he signed back in 2016. For now, he’s with the 3-3-1 Lions, but it’ll be a situation to monitor in the offseason.

Designated To Return: Broncos, Lions, Titans

October 30th, 2019 at 9:38pm CST by Dallas Robinson

With roughly half of the 2019 campaign in the books, NFL clubs have started to exercise their right to return players from injured reserve. Each team is allowed to bring two players back from IR, but said players must have been retained on their respective club’s initial 53-man roster. Once an IR player returns to practice, his club will have three weeks to decide whether to activate him to their 53-man roster; if he’s not activated, the player will remain on injured reserve for the remainder of the season.

Here are three players who have been designated to return from IR this week:

  • Broncos wide receiver Tim Patrick has returned to practice and has been designated to return, as Mike Klis of 9News tweets. A 2017 undrafted free agent, Patrick suffered a broken hand in Week 1 of the 2019 campaign but is now ready for action. Patrick broke out in the final month of last season, posting 19 receptions for 242 yards during the last quarter of the campaign. When he returns to game action, Patrick could see a significant role in a now Emmanuel Sanders-less receiving corps.
  • The Lions have designated defensive end Austin Bryant to return from IR, and he practiced Wednesday, the club announced today. Bryant was selected in the fourth round of the 2019 draft, so he’s yet to play an NFL snap. During his final two seasons at Clemson, Bryant posted 17 sacks and 30.5 tackles for loss. If activated, Bryant could help a Detroit defensive line that currently ranks bottom-seven in both adjusted line yards and adjusted sack rate, per Football Outsiders.
  • Defensive back Josh Kalu has been designated to return from IR by the Titans, per Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com (Twitter link). An undrafted free agent out of Nebraska in 2018, Kalu spent most of last year on Tennessee’s practice squad before being promoted in December. He played in five games and saw action on 48 special teams snaps.

More NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/30/19

October 30th, 2019 at 9:20pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s practice squad updates:

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

  • Signed: LB James Vaughters
  • Placed on injured list: LB Fadol Brown

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Chargers

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Signed: TE Codey McElroy

Tennessee Titans

Washington Redskins

NFL Workout Updates: 10/30/19

October 30th, 2019 at 8:01pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s workout updates, all courtesy of Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle:

Buffalo Bills

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

  • P Austin Barnard

New England Patriots

Oakland Raiders

More Minor NFL Transactions: 10/30/19

October 30th, 2019 at 6:07pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s minor moves:

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

  • Claimed off waivers (Giants): LB Tae Davis

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Los Angeles Chargers

  • Promoted from practice squad: CB Tevaughn Campbell

Miami Dolphins

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Redskins

Lions Audition DeShawn Shead

October 30th, 2019 at 2:16pm CST by Zachary Links

DeShawn Shead could be set to reunite with the Lions. On Wednesday, the cornerback worked out for Detroit’s coaches, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).

Shead entered the league as a UDFA with the Seahawks back in 2012 and proceeded to make a big impact over a six year run. Shead started 21 games between 2015 and 2016, and was one of the few remaining members of the team that won Super Bowl XLVIII for the Seahawks. He became a starter toward the end of the 2015 campaign, and started 15 games in 2016. Unfortunately he suffered a torn ACL in the 2016 playoffs, which derailed his career.

He only appeared in two games in 2017 as he worked his way back from the injury, and was then cut after the season. He signed with Detroit, and appeared in 12 games for the Lions last season, making one start. He was placed on injured reserve in December, then signed back with the Seahawks in July.

The Lions have some familiarity with the veteran, which could lead to a deal this week.

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