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Detroit Lions News & Rumors

NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 12/31/18

December 31st, 2018 at 9:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

New Year’s Eve marks the first day eliminated teams can sign players to reserve/futures contracts. Here is the first wave of those decisions:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Minnesota Vikings

New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Redskins

Blount Wants To Play In 2019

December 30th, 2018 at 5:36pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg
  • LeGarrette Blount didn’t seem to have much left in the tank this year with the Lions, but the 32 year old bruising runner wants to play in 2019. Blount only averaged 2.71 yards per carry this year and was an afterthought in the offense when Kerryon Johnson was healthy, so Blount might not be able to find a team willing to bring him in this offseason. He had a very quiet market this past spring before Detroit eventually decided to give him a one year deal.

Jim Bob Cooter Unlikely To Remain With Lions, Matt Patricia's Job Is Safe

December 30th, 2018 at 11:44am CST by Rory Parks
  • Lions OC Jim Bob Cooter‘s contract is up at the end of the season, per Rapoport, who suggests that it would be a surprise if Cooter remained in Detroit in 2019. The 34-year-old is expected to be a highly-coveted OC candidate assuming he and the Lions part ways. Unsurprisingly, Rapoport says head coach Matt Patricia is safe [SOURCE LINK].

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/29/18

December 29th, 2018 at 4:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Saturday’s minor moves:

Detroit Lions

New York Giants

San Francisco 49ers

Washington Redskins

Latest On Lions QB Matthew Stafford

December 29th, 2018 at 10:56am CST by Ben Levine

Matthew Stafford‘s underwhelming 2018 season has led some to wonder whether he’ll be sticking in Detroit long-term. Well, both Stafford and Lions head coach Matt Patricia have made it clear that the former top-overall pick is in it for the long haul.

“I think there’s something special about a guy getting a chance to play his entire career in one place,” Stafford told ESPN’s Michael Rothstein. “Not many guys get to do that these days. I would love to be one of those guys.”

Patricia seemed to echo that logic, stating that Stafford will be back under center come the start of the 2019 season.

“We’re in a situation where Matt Stafford‘s our quarterback,” the head coach said (via Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com). “That’s what it is. I think the world of the guy.”

Of course, the pairing has more to do with money than sentiment. Prior to the 2017 season, Stafford inked a lucrative five-year, $135MM contract that includes $92MM in guaranteed money (the deal kicked in at the beginning of this season). His base salary is fully guaranteed in 2019, and his salary cap hit is at $29.5MM. The team also doesn’t have an easy out via trade; the Lions would face a $30MM cap hit if they dealt Stafford. In other words, it’s in the organization’s best financial interest to give Stafford at least another season at the helm.

Still, despite the monetary implications, that hasn’t stopped some pundits from questioning if the Lions could start hunting for a new signal-caller. Last month, Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com wondered if the “culture change” in Detroit would eventually lead to the Lions seeking a new quarterback. As our own Andrew Ortenberg pointed out, it’s much more likely that the teams eyes a coaching change, potentially at offensive coordinator.

Stafford, 30, is on track to finish with his first season with fewer than 4,000 passing yards since 2011. In 15 games this season, Stafford has completed 66.3-percent of his passes for 3,511 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/28/18

December 28th, 2018 at 8:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Friday’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Carolina Panthers

  • Promoted from practice squad: G Dorian Johnson
  • Placed on IR: RB Kenjon Barner

Cleveland Browns

  • Promoted from practice squad: WR Blake Jackson
  • Placed on IR: LB Tanner Vallejo

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

  • Waived: S Rolan Milligan

Jacksonville Jaguars

Washington Redskins

Glover Quin Undecided On Playing In 2019

December 26th, 2018 at 9:33pm CST by Micah Powell

Lions safety Glover Quin does not know yet if he will play in the NFL in 2019, the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett writes. 

When asked by reporters if he would be returning next season, the veteran defender responded by saying, “I don’t know. We’ll see.” Asked if he would consider another place to play besides Detroit, he answered, “I don’t know. Depends on the situation.”

Quin, who turns 33 in January, has started all 15 of the Lions’ games in 2018, but has seen some of his play time eaten into by rookie Tracy Walker in recent weeks. Birkett says there is growing speculation the 10-year veteran will retire or be released before next season. The 2014 Pro Bowl selection is due a $5.25MM base salary with an extra $1MM in bonuses next season.

A fourth-round pick in 2009 by Houston, Quin quickly moved into a starting role as a cornerback before transitioning to safety with the Texans. He hit his stride in Detroit, where he logged a league-leading seven interceptions in 2014. His 2018 season has been a down one, however, as Quin has yet to register an interception. He tallied at least two picks in every season since 2011.

During the 2018 offseason, Quin reportedly contemplated retirement while away from the team in the spring dealing with a family issue. He returned for June minicamp, however, and says he has been locked in since returning to the team.

 

NFL Workout Updates: 12/24/18

December 24th, 2018 at 9:08pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Today’s workouts, all courtesy of veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer (on Twitter):

Cincinnati Bengals:

  • K’s Ty Long (BC CFL), Tristan Vizcaino

Detroit Lions:

Indianapolis Colts:

Kansas City Chiefs:

New York Giants:

  • DEs Tobi Antigha (SASK), Jake Ceresna (EDM); QB Bo Levi Mitchell (CALG); WRs Bryant Mitchell (EDM), Jordan Williams-Lambert (SASK); RB Terry Williams

Philadelphia Eagles:

  • WRs Carlton Agudosi, Marken Michel (CALG), Devin Smith; DB Mercy Maston (EDM); LBs Alex Singleton (CALG), Jameer Thurman (CALG)

Pittsburgh Steelers:

  • QB Max Browne; LB Sam Eguavoen (SASK); DE Avery Ellis (OTT); WR Dominique Rhymes (OTT

Tennessee Titans:

Washington Redskins:

This time of year, a lot of teams are auditioning guys for potential reserve/futures deals to be a part of their 90-man rosters for 2019. It’s also common to see a lot of CFL guys getting looks this time of year, because players participating in the 2018 CFL season aren’t eligible to sign NFL contracts until after the regular season is over.

Lions Place Bruce Ellington On IR, Make Several Other Moves

December 22nd, 2018 at 6:49pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

It’s that time of year where there are a bunch of teams shuffling the bottom of their rosters, and the Lions made a flurry of moves today. The team is placing veteran wide receiver Bruce Ellington on injured reserve, according to Justin Rogers of the Detroit News (Twitter link).

In addition to Ellington, the team also placed safety Charles Washington on injured reserve. To fill their spots on the roster, they promoted receiver Chris Lacy and cornerback Dee Virgin from the practice squad. Ellington only signed with the Lions back in November, but immediately began playing a large role as the team’s slot receiver.

He got 30 targets in his four games with Detroit, and turned them into 23 catches for 132 yards. It’s a big loss to a Lions receiving corp that’s been depleted by the trade of Golden Tate and the injury to Marvin Jones Jr. Still only 27, Ellington should have no trouble resurfacing somewhere this offseason if he can show he can stay healthy.

Ellington was playing a big role for the Texans earlier this year but was released with an injury settlement in October after he was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. The hamstring injury flared up in Detroit, and is ultimately what ended his season. Washington is a third-year UDFA who’s primarily a special teamer. Virgin is a sophomore UDFA from West Alabama while Lacy is a rookie UDFA from Oklahoma State.

Lions Promote WR Chris Lacy

December 22nd, 2018 at 10:02am CST by Ben Levine

Chris Lacy is set to make his NFL debut. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports (via Twitter) that the wide receiver will be promoted to the Lions active roster. A corresponding roster move hasn’t been reported.

After finishing his senior season with 20 receptions for 264 yards, Lacy went undrafted out of Oklahoma State during this past year’s draft. The six-foot-three, 205-pound wideout caught on with the Patriots after the draft, but he was waived by New England less than a week later.

He was subsequently claimed by the Lions, and he proceed to have a solid preseason for Detroit. He appeared in all four games, hauling in three receptions for 17 yards and one touchdown. He was waived after the preseason and signed with the Lions practice squad, where he’s spent the entire 2018 season.

The 22-year-old could get some run this weekend against the Vikings, especially since Bruce Ellington will be sidelined with a hamstring injury. Other than Lacy, the only other healthy wideouts currently on the Lions roster are Kenny Golladay, T.J. Jones, Andy Jones, and Brandon Powell.

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