- The Lions have waived offensive tackle Dominick Jackson, as Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com writes. Detroit signed Jackson on June 1 as a UDFA out of Alabama, but he wound up lasting less than a month with the team.
The door is open for Lions wide receiver Andre Roberts to earn a spot with the team, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press writes. As the Lions’ page on Roster Resource shows, Golden Tate and Marvin Jones stand as the team’s top receivers with Jeremy Kerley, T.J. Jones, and Boldin vying for the No. 3 job. However, Kerley missed part of OTAs with an injury and Corey Fuller is out indefinitely following foot surgery, so Roberts definitely has an opening. Shortly after signing with the team, Roberts said the Lions told him they plan to use him as both a slot and outside receiver, and he could also compete for the punt return job.
The 28-year-old didn’t get a chance to shine with the Redskins, but now he could carve out a great opportunity for himself. In addition to Roberts, could we see another notable receiver join the Lions? Here’s today’s look at Detroit:
- The Lions could still bring in a veteran and Anquan Boldin is a guy to pay attention to, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com writes. The Lions hosted Boldin on a visit last week on the same day that they signed Roberts to a deal, but it sounds like the team is still very much considering him. The Lions could comfortably go into the season with their current group of receivers, but Boldin would give Detroit another experienced option with a long history of high-end production. Boldin, 35, has reportedly been working out in South Florida and staying in shape as he waits for the right opportunity.
- In a separate piece, Rothstein sees the Lions only keeping five linebackers which would mean that that recent trade acquisition Jon Bostic wouldn’t make the team. The team could roll into 2016 with DeAndre Levy, Tahir Whitehead, Josh Bynes, Antwione Williams, and Kyle Van Noy as the complete group, but Bostic and Zaviar Gooden are working to change the minds of coaches. The former second-round pick was traded from the Patriots to the Lions in May in exchange for conditional 2017 seventh-round selection.
- Late last week, the Lions added tight end Orson Charles.
SATURDAY, 10:20am: The Lions have official announced the move on their website.
THURSDAY, 1:06pm: The Lions have agreed to sign tight end Orson Charles, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press writes. Charles was in camp with the team this week on a tryout basis and made a good impression on coaches. 
[RELATED: Darius Slay Wants Top 7 Cornerback Money]
The Lions still have to clear a spot on their 90-man roster for Charles and it’s possible that Stephen Tulloch could be the player jettisoned. The veteran linebacker has been in limbo since February, but there’s reason to believe that his saga will be coming to an end soon. This week, the Lions excused Tulloch from minicamp and that could be a sign that he won’t be with the team much longer. Tulloch, 31, has spent the last five years with the Lions but they would apparently prefer to free up cap space.
As for Charles, he has not appeared in an NFL game since 2013 when he was with the Bengals. In the year prior, he logged six starts for Cincinnati. Currently, the Lions have six other tight ends on the roster: Brandon Pettigrew, Eric Ebron, Adam Fuehne, Matthew Mulligan, Ben McCord, and Cole Wick.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
- Al Golden is happy with his decision to jump to the NFL as the Lions‘ tight ends coach, but that doesn’t mean that the former University of Miami head coach is done with college football, as he tells Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “I think I have too much experience and just because I started young as a head coach, sometimes people look at it like, ‘Well, he’s already been a head coach,’” Golden said. “But I’m not 57. I’m 46, so I started young as a head coach and I’ve got a world of experience and I think this is just the next chapter for me so we’ll see where it goes. It’s too early to start thinking about that, but I know I’m skilled in that aspect of it. I’ve been a defensive coordinator, I’ve been a special teams coordinator, I’ve coached five or six different positions and now I’m coaching on the offense in the NFL”
- Cornerback Darius Slay‘s contract situation puts the Lions in a familiar position, writes The Associated Press. For the third straight season, the Lions have a top defensive player entering a contract year, with Slay joining linebacker DeAndre Levy (2015) and tackle Ndamukong Suh (2014). Levy signed a four-year extension before last season, of course, and Suh played out his contract year and then departed in free agency. Slay hopes to follow Levy’s path and stay in Detroit for the long haul, the corner said earlier this week.
- The Lions have waived wideout Corey Washington from the injured reserve, tweets ESPN’s Michael Rothstein. The former undrafted free agent out of Newberry College tweaked his hamstring during OTAs, reports Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (via Twitter). The 24-year-old has five career catches for 52 yards and one touchdown.
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- Defensive lineman James DeLoach has been cut by the Lions, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (Twitter link).
- It appears that Lions receiver Corey Fuller had surgery on his injured right foot, per Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com. That would help explain the Lions’ decision to sign Andre Roberts last week and also why the team hosted Anquan Boldin on a visit.
The Lions’ Darius Slay is coming off his second straight 16-start, two-interception season, one in which Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked him as the second-best cornerback in the NFL. As a result of his on-field excellence, Slay – now in a contract year – wants to be paid like one of the league’s top seven corners on his next deal, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
[RELATED: Lions Sign WR Andre Roberts]
In assessing his own performance, the 2013 second-round pick from Mississippi State said, “Right now I’ll say top seven, just cause as long as (Darrelle) Revis is in the game, he’s going to be the best corner to me. (Richard) Sherman’s the best, 24 picks in three years, nobody ain’t do that. Pat P (Peterson) of course. I love Chris Harris’ game. (Aqib) Talib. Joe Haden. I feel like them are the real elite, elite, elite guys, so I feel like I’m an elite guy, but I feel like I got to keep working to get to their level because they’re elite.”
As of now, the seven highest-paid corners in the league average roughly $14MM per year in salary and nearly $7.3MM in annual guarantees. Prices for high-end corners have continued rising since last season, with the likes of Josh Norman and Janoris Jenkins scoring massive contracts in free agency.
Regardless of the exact amount it takes to lock up Slay, the 25-year-old hopes the Lions are the ones doling out his checks for the foreseeable future. Slay, who hired Drew Rosenhaus as his agent in January and subsequently approached the Lions about an extension, told Birkett that he wants to remain in the Motor City for the long haul.
“I love the city, I love the fans, so that’s why I came to them and asked them for it,” he stated.
As for a time frame on an extension, Slay is aiming for sometime this summer, he told Birkett.
“I don’t really know why it’s that important, but I feel like it should be done then,” Slay said.
Slay is currently on track to earn just under $1MM in 2016.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
- The Lions waived wide receiver Austin Willis and signed defensive back Keith Lewis today, as Dave Birkett of The Detroit Free Press tweets.
- Tight end Michael Williams (Patriots), cornerback Brandon McGee (Cowboys), and receiver Corey Washington (Lions) all reverted to injured reserve after clearing waivers, according to Balzer (Twitter link).
Lions linebacker Stephen Tulloch was excused from mandatory minicamp, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). His impending release should come in the next few weeks, Rapoport adds. 
[RELATED: Lions Sign Andre Roberts]
Back in February, the Lions reportedly informed the veteran that he would be cut loose this offseason. However, for the last few months, he has been in a strange limbo with the team. The Lions have repeatedly declined to comment on Tulloch’s status even though the football world has been anticipating his release.
“What a journey it’s been Detroit!,” Tulloch wrote on Instagram roughly four months ago. “Five years of some of the greatest memories of my career. I can’t put into words how grateful I am to have played for such a great organization. I want thank the Ford family, the front office, the strength coaches, trainers, equipment staff, and everybody in between for everything you have done for me over the years. Last but not least I want to thank the community of Detroit for being behind me and my foundation over the years in making a difference in many lives. Such as life there is constant change. But change that I’m looking forward to. As one chapter closes in my career another one opens up.”
Tulloch, 31, has spent the last five years with the Lions. He has played in all 16 regular games of each season except for in 2014. In a September contest against the Packers, Tulloch tore his ACL while celebrating a sack, ending his season prematurely. In 2015, he restored his ironman cred by playing in 16 games, racking up 108 total tackles, 1 sack, and 2 fumble recoveries.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.