- With Brandon Pettigrew and Eric Ebron struggling through injuries, the Lions could be on the lookout for another tight end. ESPN.com’s Michael Rothstein says veteran Owen Daniels could be an option, although he’d have to be content with serving a limited role.
[SOURCE LINK]
SATURDAY, 11:35am: The organization has officially waived Wright, according to the team’s transaction log.
THURSDAY, 3:34pm: The Lions have waived/injured tight end Tim Wright, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (on Twitter). Wright was acquired by Detroit last August via trade from the Buccaneers and re-signed this March.
[RELATED: Lions’ Ameer Abdullah Has Shoulder Surgery]
Wright, 26, made his NFL mark in 2013 with an impressive rookie year, racking up 54 receptions, 571 yards, and five touchdowns for the Buccaneers. However, he has changed teams twice since then – first traded to New England, then claimed off waivers by Detroit – and has seen his role reduced along the way. In 2015, he caught just nine balls for 77 yards and two TDs for the Lions.
While financial terms of Wright’s March agreement were not disclosed, we do know that he was eligible for restricted free agency this offseason, and wasn’t offered a contract tender by the Lions. A low-end RFA tender would have been worth $1.671MM, so it’s reasonable to assume that his one-year deal was worth less than that — likely for the minimum salary, or close to it.
With Wright out of the picture, the Lions now have five tight ends on the depth chart:Eric Ebron, Brandon Pettigrew, and Matthew Mulligan plus rookies Adam Fuehne and Cole Wick.
Wright was expected to have the opportunity to earn a roster spot and possibly compete for playing time for Detroit in 2016. Now, he’ll try to do the same thing with a new team – once he gets healthy.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
As Lions OTAs continue, the shadow of Calvin Johnson looms large. How long did it take quarterback Matthew Stafford to get used to life without Megatron?
The Lions signed Marvin Jones in free agency and he’ll likely be their No. 2 option at wide receiver behind Golden Tate. They Lions also picked up Jeremy Kerley in the offseason to add some depth to the position and possibly take the role of punt returner off Tate’s plate. The Lions still have plenty of passing options – including tight ends Eric Ebron and Brandon Pettigrew – but it remains to be seen whether they can collectively fill the void left by Johnson’s retirement.
11:02am: Abdullah should be cleared by the end of the month, a source tells Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com.
10:58am: Lions running back Ameer Abdullah underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in January, according to a source who spoke with Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. As of this writing, Abdullah “could miss the rest of the offseason” and it is not clear whether this injury could sideline him for the start of the regular season. 
The running back hurt his shoulder in the Lions’ December win over the Saints but toughed it out and played in the team’s final two games against the 49ers and Bears. After the season was over, he went to famed surgeon Dr. James Andrews for his operation. Abdullah is said to be ahead of schedule in his rehab, but the Lions intend to proceed cautiously until training camp, Birkett writes.
Last year, the Lions selected Abdullah in the second round and it didn’t take long for his hype train to pick up steam. Ultimately, however, Abdullah found himself in a time share and did not put up the kind of gaudy numbers that some fans expected. In total, the 22-year-old (23 in June) ran for 597 yards off of 143 carries (4.2 yards per carry) with two rushing touchdowns. He also got involves in the passing game, recording 25 catches for 183 yards and one score. Abdullah’s highest rushing total (77 yards) came during his ill-fated performance against the Saints in December.
Abdullah is slotted in as the Lions No. 1 running back with Theo Riddick, Stevan Ridley, and Zach Zenner in support. The team also has seventh-round pick Dwayne Washington fighting for playing time.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
- In today’s mailbag, a reader asks Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com about the Lions‘ perceived lack of change at the running back position. While the Lions did not make a major splash, they did add veteran Stevan Ridley in free agency and Dwayne Washington in the draft. Washington, Twentyman writes, is a no-nonsense tailback who boasts big-play potential thanks to his size and speed. Those two backs will support incumbent starter Ameer Abdullah and pass-catching specialist Theo Riddick.
- The Lions waived offensive lineman Darius Johnson on Tuesday, as Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com writes. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press adds (via Twitter) that Johnson was waived with an injury waiver designation. Johnson, a Middle Tennessee State product, signed with Detroit following the team’s rookie minicamp.
- An extension for Matthew Stafford could depend on the quarterback’s production this upcoming season, writes ESPN.com’s Michael Rothstein. If the Lions quarterback struggles, the writer wonders if general manager Bob Quinn would decide to “clean house.”
[SOURCE LINK]
- Lions safety Glover Quin believes teammate Darius Slay is one of the 10 best cornerbacks in the NFL, but there’s one thing missing from his game. “Everybody is going to say it from now until the end of time — he’s a great, great, great cover guy. The only thing that he can do to take it to the next level is intercept the ball. I mean, that’s it,” Quin said Wednesday (via Kyle Meinke of MLive.com). Slay has just four interceptions during his three-year career – all of which came during the previous two campaigns – but Pro Football Focus graded him as the second-best corner in the league last season (111 qualifiers). Thanks to his reputation as a shutdown corner, Slay should land a sizable raise between now and the expiration of his contract after next season. A deal could be in the works, as Slay’s agent – Drew Rosenhaus – was at Lions practice Thursday.
- Drew Rosenhaus, the agent for Darius Slay and Stephen Tulloch, is at the Lions‘ practice facility today, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press tweets. Slay, who changed representation earlier this year, was a 2013 draft pick, making him eligible for an extension when the Lions’ regular season ended. As for Tulloch, the Lions reportedly were set to release him in February, but they may have had a change of heart. Tulloch, 31, has spent the last five years with the Lions.
- The Lions have added an undrafted rookie free agent, inking Central Michigan defensive tackle Louis Palmer to a contract, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com (Twitter link). In order to create a roster spot, Detroit released offensive tackle Lamar Holmes, a veteran of 21 NFL games who signed with the Lions in February.