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Detroit Lions News & Rumors

Lions, DT Alim McNeill Begin Extension Talks

August 31st, 2024 at 5:20pm CST by Adam La Rose

The 2024 offseason has been defined by the Lions’ willingness to extend several in-house players. Each of the team’s major new deals worked out over the past few months have come on the offensive side of the ball, and attention has now turned to one of Detroit’s ascending defenders.

Lions general manager Brad Holmes confirmed defensive tackle Alim McNeill is firmly on the team’s extension radar. That has been known throughout the summer, but Detroit has had other priorities to deal with. Now that the bulk of the roster is set in advance of Week 1, negotiations on a second contract with the 24-year-old are set to begin.

“We haven’t had anything intense going on from a dialogue standpoint, but his camp knows that we want to get something done,” Holmes said (via Jared Ramsey of the Detroit Free Press). “But, it’s very [much] in the infancy stage right now.”

McNeill has one year remaining on his rookie contract, and his play in 2023 set him up for a potential payday. The former third-rounder notched a career-high five sacks last season, adding 13 pressures and 10 quarterback hits. He again served as a full-time starter, and his production is particularly notable since he missed four games due to an MCL injury. Healthy in time for the postseason, McNeill was again a regular presence along interior for all three of Detroit’s playoffs games.

The Lions added to their D-line by signing Marcus Davenport as a veteran complement to edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson. Detroit also added D.J. Reader on the open market. The former Bengals run-stuffer should take on a first-team role when healthy, and he could form an effective tandem with McNeill. Last month, it was confirmed extension talks with the NC State product would take place relatively soon.

Time still remains between now and the start of the regular season for the Lions and McNeill to work out a deal. Given the nature of Holmes’ latest comments on the subject, though, it would come as a surprise if an agreement were to be worked out in the coming days. Negotiations could carry over into the fall, or McNeill’s camp could choose to play out the coming season with the hopes of another productive season upping his trade value. It will be interesting to see how much progress is made now that formal talks are underway.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 8/29/24

August 29th, 2024 at 8:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

PFR’s practice squad rundown, signaling we are indeed close to games that count, begins Thursday. Here is how teams began to handle their 16-man P-squads.

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Slovis went to camp with the Colts, joining the team as a UDFA this year. Houston placed Case Keenum on IR and released Tim Boyle, who is now the Dolphins’ P-squad QB. Slovis, who played at USC, Pittsburgh and BYU in college, is now the Texans’ de facto third-stringer.

Shelley has 11 career starts — with the Bears and Vikings — on his resume. He joined the Raiders last year but ended up with the Rams, playing in 11 games as a backup. The Giants have spent time searching for a cornerback answer, having not been too satisfied with their Cor’Dale Flott–Nick McCloud CB2 competition. New York did not make any waiver claims at the position Wednesday.

Reagor, who played for the Patriots last season, is back after being released earlier this week. The former Minnesota first-rounder played in 11 New England games last season, returning a kick for a touchdown. Latu joins the Browns after being a 49ers cut. The 2023 third-round pick missed all of last season with an ACL tear. Jefferson is back with the Bolts hours after being released.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/29/24

August 29th, 2024 at 8:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Thursday’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Dallas Cowboys 

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

  • Removed from IR via injury settlement: LB Keandre Jones, S Ben Nikke

Schlottmann suffered what Brian Daboll called a long-term injury. Elaborating on the injury Schlottmann suffered in practice Wednesday, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan notes the veteran backup O-lineman will rehab a broken fibula. The injury is expected to shut down the free agency addition for at least two months. No surgery is on tap for Schlottmann. The Giants considering him for activation may depend on their injury situation, as teams only have eight regular-season IR activations. The Giants have seven presently, as they used a summer IR designation on linebacker Matthew Adams on Tuesday.

Lions Add Allen Robinson To Practice Squad, Bring Back Donovan Peoples-Jones

August 28th, 2024 at 3:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Lions are adding Donovan Peoples-Jones and Allen Robinson to their practice squad. This represents continuity for Peoples-Jones. For Robinson, it might be a last chance.

The Giants became the second team this year to cut Robinson, releasing him Tuesday. The Steelers moved on from the veteran wide receiver early this offseason. The Lions will be Robinson’s sixth NFL team. Detroit has stocked up on veteran options over the past 24 hours, as these agreements come after Tim Patrick linked up with Dan Campbell‘s team on a P-squad deal.

[RELATED: Offseason In Review: Detroit Lions]

Each of these three veteran options received walking papers Tuesday. The Broncos could not find a Patrick trade partner, and he may have a path to challenging for the Lions’ No. 3 wide receiver role. Denver added the player Detroit wanted for that job, Josh Reynolds, in free agency. Peoples-Jones re-signed with the Lions this offseason, but the 2023 trade pickup did not seize the job during preseason play. Detroit will take what amounts to a flier on Robinson, who has declined considerably since he was last in the NFC North.

A two-time 1,000-yard target with the Bears, Robinson received the franchise tag in 2021. He did not impress on the tag and quickly entered post-prime territory in Los Angeles and Pittsburgh. The Rams had given Robinson a three-year, $46.5MM deal in 2022; he did not finish the season. The Steelers saw the former Jaguars and Bears standout produce 34 catches for 280 yards last season. The big-bodied target, who turned 31 last week, joined the Giants midway through the offseason but could not land a roster spot.

This trio joins veteran receiver/returner Kalif Raymond and UDFA Isaiah Williams as Lions wideouts. Detroit only kept four WRs on its active roster. Patrick, who has recovered from ACL and Achilles tears that took him off the field in 2022 and ’23, is expected to vault to the 53-man unit soon. Robinson and Peoples-Jones, in turn, appear P-squad stashes.

Wednesday NFL Transactions: NFC North

August 28th, 2024 at 2:22pm CST by Sam Robinson

Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Bears, Lions, Packers and Vikings moves are noted below.

Chicago Bears

Signed:

Claimed:

Placed on IR:

Signed to practice squad:

Detroit Lions

Signed:

Claimed:

Signed to practice squad:

Green Bay Packers

Signed:

Claimed:

Signed to practice squad:

Minnesota Vikings

Signed:

Claimed:

Signed to practice squad:

2024 NFL Waiver Order

August 28th, 2024 at 10:42am CST by Sam Robinson

Waiver claims can begin coming in at 11am CT. While the waiver order will depend on 2024 records in several weeks, teams’ 2023 finishes currently determine it. Here is how the waiver priority list stacks up heading into today’s round of claims:

  1. Carolina Panthers
  2. Washington Commanders
  3. New England Patriots
  4. Arizona Cardinals
  5. Los Angeles Chargers
  6. New York Giants
  7. Tennessee Titans
  8. Atlanta Falcons
  9. Chicago Bears
  10. New York Jets
  11. Minnesota Vikings
  12. Denver Broncos
  13. Las Vegas Raiders
  14. New Orleans Saints
  15. Indianapolis Colts
  16. Seattle Seahawks
  17. Jacksonville Jaguars
  18. Cincinnati Bengals
  19. Los Angeles Rams
  20. Pittsburgh Steelers
  21. Miami Dolphins
  22. Philadelphia Eagles
  23. Cleveland Browns
  24. Dallas Cowboys
  25. Green Bay Packers
  26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  27. Houston Texans
  28. Buffalo Bills
  29. Detroit Lions
  30. Baltimore Ravens
  31. San Francisco 49ers
  32. Kansas City Chiefs

Lions Get Down To 53 Players

August 27th, 2024 at 8:57pm CST by Ely Allen

The Lions used a couple of different methods to get their active roster to 53 players:

Released:

Waived:

Waived/injured:

Placed on IR (designated for return):

Placed on reserve/PUP list:

The Lions released a lot more vested veterans than we typically see at this time in the year, perhaps a sign of the young talent on the roster. Peko seemed like a sure thing to make the roster after starting 10 games for the Titans in 2023.

Detroit will dismiss a couple of young rushers in Jefferson and Knight after the two failed to develop a significant role on the roster. Fromm was easily outshined in the preseason by an electric Hendon Hooker, who will take the backup job behind Jared Goff. Fromm continues to search for his place in the NFL after nearly winning it all at the collegiate level.

Martin, like Mahogany, will be able to return after four weeks, thanks to a new NFL rule that allows each team to place two players on IR before or at the roster cut deadline and designate them to return. Cornerback Emmanuel Moseley has the other designation.

Mahogany is the only drafted rookie not to make the initial 53, but he’ll stick around in Detroit. On the other side of things, the Lions kept three undrafted rookie signees on their active roster to start the season. Most notably Hogan Hatten will come in and operate as the team’s new long snapper. Safety Loren Strickland from Ball State and wide receiver Isaiah Williams from Illinois are the other two undrafted rookies to make the initial roster.

WR Tim Patrick Expected To Join Lions

August 27th, 2024 at 5:43pm CST by Adam La Rose

Tim Patrick was let go by the Broncos earlier today after no trade partner could be found. The veteran wideout has not needed to wait long to find his next home, however.

Patrick is expected to sign with the Lions, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. This will be a practice squad agreement at first with the plan being to move him to the active roster in short order. That move has become increasingly popular around the NFL as it pertains to veteran additions, and in Patrick’s case it will allow him to compete for a notable receiving role in Detroit.

The 30-year-old missed all of 2022 and ’23 due to ACL and Achilles tears, respectively. Those major ailments led to questions about his roster status with the Broncos moving forward, but upon returning to full health he seemed to have a spot lined up in Denver. It was learned yesterday, however, that the team was shopping him in an effort to work out a trade. After no deal on that front materialized, Patrick was among the Broncos’ final cuts.

The former UDFA played with Denver from 2018-21. Over the final two years of that stretch in particular, he established himself as a full-time starter and impact producer. Patrick totaled 1,476 yards and 11 touchdowns during his last two Broncos campaigns, but after missing the past two seasons altogether it would have been fair to wonder if he would have drawn early interest in free agency. The Lions have proven that to be true.

Detroit’s passing game is set to once again be led by All-Pro wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown and record-breaking tight end Sam LaPorta in 2024. While former first-rounder Jameson Williams is positioned to take on the WR2 role, the Lions’ depth has been a talking point since Josh Reynolds departed (to the Broncos, as it turned out) in free agency. Donovan Peoples-Jones was let go, creating a vacancy in the receiving corps. Patrick will spend the coming weeks attempting to fill it.

Lions To Release QB Nate Sudfeld

August 27th, 2024 at 10:36am CST by Sam Robinson

Either Hendon Hooker made late progress, or the Lions are confident they can add a veteran backup soon. After Dan Campbell proclaimed Nate Sudfeld ahead for Detroit’s QB2 role, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport notes that Sudfeld is being released.

Sudfeld, who has not seen game action since the Eagles’ scrutinized Jalen Hurts benching to close out the 2020 regular season, missed all of last season due to injury but had impressed in training camp. He will pass straight to free agency.

Considering Sudfeld has not played since the 2020 season and missed all of last year, it also is conceivable he will not generate much interest. The Lions may well have the opportunity to stash the veteran on their practice squad. The team also has offseason pickup Jake Fromm as a P-squad option. But this will move Hooker up the depth chart.

It has long been expected Hooker would eventually be Jared Goff‘s backup, but Campbell’s comment earlier this month poured some cold water on the 2023 third-rounder’s progress. Detroit effectively redshirted Hooker last season, after a November 2022 ACL tear hurt his draft stock. But Teddy Bridgewater retired, en route to coaching at his high school alma mater, opening a door for Hooker, who spent most of last season on the NFI list.

The Lions could also move Sudfeld back to their active roster after other roster moves commence, but since the NFL has provided more IR flexibility this year, fewer post-cutdown-day IR moves figure to occur. As it stands, Sudfeld is off Detroit’s roster for the time being. It would stand to reason he or Fromm will be the team’s de facto QB3. Monday’s news regarding the NFLPA nixing the league’s move to give teams QB flexibility has not moved the Lions to keep three passers.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/26/24

August 26th, 2024 at 10:08pm CST by Ely Allen

There have been plenty of posts today about a number of teams releasing and waiving players ahead of roster cuts. Here are the best of the rest of the minor moves for Monday:

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

  • Waived: DE Justin Blazek

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

  • Waived: DE Levi Bell
  • Released: C Mike Panasiuk

Las Vegas Raiders

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

  • Waived: CB Willie Roberts

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Nelson was an effective swing tackle for the Lions in the past three years. While he wasn’t able to stick with the Giants, he’s likely to draw interest elsewhere in the NFL.

The Eagles like Sam a lot at safety, but with a number of veterans atop the depth chart, there wasn’t room for him on the roster. The team plans to retain him on the practice squad should he clear waivers, per Andrew DiCecco of 975 The Fanatic. The Buccaneers have similar plans with Isaac, Taula, and Wisdom.

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