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Detroit Lions News & Rumors

Practice Squad Updates: Wednesday

December 10th, 2014 at 5:25pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are Wednesday’s practice squad signings and cuts, with the latest moves added to the top of the page throughout the day:

  • The Raiders announced that they have filled their two open practice squad spots, signing wide receiver Kenny Shaw and tight end Evan Wilson. Shaw, a former standout at Florida State, briefly spent time with the Browns and Jaguars. Wilson was among the Dolphins final cuts in August, and he had workouts with the Patriots and Giants earlier this season.
  • The Seahawks have signed linebacker Mike Zimmer, tweets Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times. Zimmer (no relation to the coach) played with the Vikings during the preseason.

Earlier updates:

  • Cornerback Kennard Cox has signed with the Seahawks‘ taxi squad, tweets Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. Cox last played in the NFL with Seattle in 2011.
  • The 49ers have filled the last opening on their practice squad by signing offensive tackle Chris Martin, per Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com (via Twitter).
  • According to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com (via Twitter), the two openings on the Lions’ practice squad have now been filled, as the team added wide receiver Skye Dawson and linebacker Jerrell Harris.
  • The Cowboys have made a change to their practice squad, replacing defensive end Lavar Edwards with cornerback Micah Pellerin, says Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com (Twitter link). Edwards lands on the team’s practice squad IR list.
  • The Panthers have re-signed running back Tauren Poole to their practice squad, tweets Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. Poole had a very brief stint on the active roster earlier this season when Carolina was dealing with several injuries in the backfield.
  • Wide receiver Alec Lemon, a former local high school standout, has joined the Ravens‘ taxi squad, filling the 10th and final spot, according to a team release.
  • The Broncos have filled the lone opening on their practice squad by adding defensive end Gerald Rivers back to the unit, per ESPN.com’s Jeff Legwold (via Twitter). Rivers, who tried out for the Giants this week, was cut last week from Denver’s 53-man roster.
  • The Buccaneers have removed tight end Taylor Sloat from their practice squad, according to Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com (Twitter link), who says the move may indicate improving health for the team’s tight ends. Linebacker Ka’Lial Glaud has replaced Sloat on the squad.
  • With outside linebacker Jason Ankrah having been promoted to the Texans‘ active roster, former Clemson defensive end Kourtnei Brown has been added to Houston’s practice squad to replace Ankrah, tweets Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle.

Suh: Agent Will Make Decision On 2015 Team

December 10th, 2014 at 1:19pm CST by Luke Adams

Ndamukong Suh is one of the most notable players eligible for unrestricted free agency this coming offseason, but the Lions’ standout defensive tackle doesn’t sound overly excited about the possibility of going through the free agent process. The Pro Bowler told reporters today, including Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, that agent Jimmy Sexton will decide where Suh plays next season.

“It’ll be Jimmy’s decision, so we’ll go with that,” Suh said. “You can call Jimmy if you want to.” Asked if he meant that his agent will choose the team he plays for in 2015, Suh replied, “Probably will. Yup.”

While there are likely plenty of players who let their agents seek out the highest offer and then agree to sign it, it’s unusual to hear a player – especially one of Suh’s caliber – acknowledge it so openly. At a time when most free-agents-to-be would express a desire to remain with their current teams, Suh didn’t even pay lip service to the idea of wanting to keep playing in Detroit.

Still, Suh’s indication that Sexton will play such a major role in the free agent process doesn’t necessarily mean that the 27-year-old is opposed to the idea of remaining a Lion, or that the team will even let him get away — the franchise tag is one option the Lions could explore, even though the cost would be massive. ESPN’s Michael Rothstein argued earlier in the week that using the $26MM+ franchise tag on Suh could be worth it for Detroit, since he plays such a significant role on defense, and the salary cap figures to be on the rise again in 2015.

Wherever Suh lands for 2015 and beyond, his free agency will be one of the most interesting subplots of the offseason. We ranked the Lions star second in the most recent installment of our free agent power rankings, and perhaps no player near the top of our list has a more realistic chance of switching teams than Suh.

Lions Place Joseph Fauria On IR

December 10th, 2014 at 11:30am CST by Luke Adams

11:30am: The Lions have officially placed Fauria on IR and signed Davis, reports Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com (via Twitter).

10:47am: It appears that tight end Joseph Fauria‘s ankle injury will force him out of action for the rest of the season, with the Lions preparing to place him on injured reserve, tweets Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Fauria himself hinted at that possibility, via Instagram, writing, “It will only make my future success that much sweeter. Trust I’m going to come back the best I’ve ever been.”

Fauria, 24, aggravated a previous ankle injury during Sunday’s win over the Buccaneers, and the fact that the Lions agreed to re-sign tight end Kellen Davis yesterday suggested the prognosis wasn’t good for the sophomore. It looks as if moving Fauria to IR will accommodate the official signing of Davis.

Fauria had to compete for playing time and targets with fellow tight ends Eric Ebron and Brandon Pettigrew this season, and caught just six balls for 74 yards and a touchdown in the handful of games in which he played. During his two NFL seasons, Fauria has displayed a knack for finding the end zone, scoring eight TDs on only 24 overall receptions.

The Lions have Fauria under contract through the 2015 season, so he figures to return to the club next year, hopefully with a clean bill of health.

Practice Squad Updates: Tuesday

December 9th, 2014 at 7:16pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are Tuesday’s practice squad signings and cuts, with the latest moves added to the top of the page throughout the rest of the day:

  • Center Jeff Baca was cut by the Chargers to make room for newly-signed punter Mat McBriar, but he’s cleared waivers and been added to San Diego’s taxi squad, tweets Wilson. The Chargers only had nine players on its PS, so they won’t have to drop anyone.
  • The Saints have cut fullback Michael Zordich from their practice squad, according to Evan Woodbery of the Times-Picayune (Twitter link). Zordich was originally added to New Orleans’ PS just over a month ago.

Earlier updates:

  • Linebacker Jerrell Harris has been released by the Lions from their taxi squad, per Aaron Wilson (via Twitter).
  • The Jets have signed cornerback Keith Lewis to their practice squad, the team announced today (via Twitter). Aaron Wilson reported earlier today at the National Football Post that the club would be working out Lewis.
  • After working out cornerbacks Kevin Fogg and Anthony Gaitor today, the Steelers signed Fogg to their practice squad, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). The team’s PR rep, Burt Lauten, confirmed the signing of Fogg, tweeting that safety Jordan Dangerfield has been released from the taxi squad to accommodate the addition.
  • The Bills have replaced one wide receiver with another on their practice squad, signing former N.C. State product Tobais Palmer and letting go of Eric Thomas, the club announced today in a press release.
  • Defensive tackle Dominique Hamilton, who was cut by the Giants on Saturday, has rejoined the team’s practice squad, per Jordan Raanan of NJ.com (via Twitter).
  • Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal has the details on the latest change to the Browns‘ practice squad, tweeting that the team has released defensive lineman Christian Tupou and signed defensive back Kendall James.

Minor Moves: Tuesday

December 9th, 2014 at 6:46pm CST by Luke Adams

We’ve already rounded up several of the day’s more notable transactions in posts of their own, but we’ll use this space to keep tabs on the 53-man roster moves that may have slipped under the radar. Here’s the latest:

  • The Panthers have cut quarterback Matt Blanchard from injured reserve, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
  • Free agent linebacker Rob Ruggiero has been suspended for four weeks by the league, per Wilson (Twitter link) — no word on what led to the ban.

Earlier updates:

  • The Raiders have cut linebacker Jamar Chaney, according to Jerry McDonald of the Oakland Tribune. The club hasn’t yet filled Cheney’s roster spot, but McDonald surmises that receiver Rod Streater, currently on IR-DTR, could soon be added to the 53-man.
  • Cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson, who dislocated his shoulder during Sunday’s loss to the Giants, has been placed on the injured reserve list by the Titans, says Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (via Twitter). According to Wyatt (via Twitter), the team has filled the newly-opened spot on its roster by signing free agent offensive lineman Jamon Meredith, who was cut by the Bengals a week ago.
  • The Lions officially removed running back Montell Owens from their roster today, releasing him from IR, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Unless the two sides reached an injury settlement, the move suggests that Owens is now fully healthy.

NFC North Notes: Tillman, Tate, Lions, Bears

December 9th, 2014 at 5:58pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Veteran Bears corner Charles Tillman has been on injured reserve since mid-September after tearing his triceps in Week 2, but the time off hasn’t lessened his urge to return to game action in 2015. “I would like to continue to play,” Tillman told ESPN 1000 today (link via Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com). “Right now, all I want to do is get healthy before I make a decision to retire or to continue to play. I have every intent of coming back and playing.” Additionally, the 12-year veteran won’t limit himself to only playing for Chicago. “I’m willing to play for all 32 organizations, whoever is interested,” said Tillman. “That’s the business side. Do I love Chicago? Yeah, but at the end of the day, if Chicago didn’t want me back and that team wanted me, or this team wanted me, or that team, yeah, I’ve got to go. They’re going to pay my bills. So, sorry.” Here’s more from the NFC North.

  • With Jerick McKinnon now on injured reserve, Vikings running back Ben Tate could be in line for more carries, writes Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Tate, whom Minnesota claimed from the Browns earlier this season, is due more than $46K per game in roster bonuses for each contest he’s active, so he has financial incentive to perform and remain a part of the club’s plans for the remaining three games.
  • Lions rookie receiver T.J. Jones will remain on the PUP list, ending his season, according to Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com. Jones, a sixth-round pick out of Notre Dame, began practicing three weeks ago after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery. However, Detroit obviously doesn’t believe he’s healthy enough to play, and as Rothstein notes, the Lions have a bevy of receiver talent, meaning little playing time for Jones.
  • Defensive back Loucheiz Purifoy, whose failed physical voided his waiver claim by the Seahawks earlier this month, worked out for the Bears today, per Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link).

Lions To Re-Sign Kellen Davis

December 9th, 2014 at 9:22am CST by Luke Adams

The Lions will re-sign a player they cut two weeks ago, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, tweeting that the team plans to add tight end Kellen Davis back to its roster today. No corresponding move has been reported or announced yet.

Davis, who turned 29 in October, has grabbed 50 balls for 561 yards and 12 touchdowns during his six-year NFL career. However, he didn’t add to those totals during his stint with the Lions earlier this season — he was targeted just three times during his brief run with the team, and failed to record a single reception.

When the Lions last signed Davis, it was to add depth at a tight end position that had been decimated by injuries. This time around, Eric Ebron and Brandon Pettigrew appear to be healthy, so it’s unlikely that Davis will see a whole lot of game action. However, his signing doesn’t bode well for the health of Joseph Fauria, who tweaked his troublesome ankle during Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers.

NFC North Notes: Suh, Peterson, Bears

December 8th, 2014 at 4:59pm CST by Luke Adams

With Ndamukong Suh eligible for unrestricted free agency this coming March, the Lions need to do whatever they can to make sure the star defensive tackle stays in Detroit, writes Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com. Rothstein even suggests that the team will have to consider franchising Suh if the two sides can’t reach a longer-term deal, since his value to the Lions’ defense makes paying a premium worthwhile.

Here’s more from around the NFC North:

  • A source close to Adrian Peterson tells Jason Cole of Bleacher Report that Peterson’s camp would like to reach a settlement on his suspension appeal, but the Vikings running back isn’t interested in any deal that would see his ban stretch into next season.
  • Scott Soshnick of Bloomberg Sports passes along some details on Troy Vincent‘s testimony from Peterson’s hearing, noting that the NFL executive told Peterson he would be subject to the league’s old personal conduct policy rather than the new one.
  • Bears general manager Phil Emery is likely experiencing some buyer’s remorse after extending Jay Cutler last January, says Steve Rosenbloom of the Chicago Tribune, suggesting that the decision could ultimately cost Emery his job.
  • In spite of speculation that the Bears might consider other quarterback options for next year and beyond, head coach Marc Trestman told reporters today, including Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com (Twitter link), that the club has never wavered on its commitment to Cutler.

NFC Mailbags: Panthers, Cards, Lions

December 6th, 2014 at 10:35am CST by Ben Levine

We took a look at ESPN’s AFC mailbags earlier this morning. Let’s now focus on notes from the NFC…

  • If the Panthers get a top-10 pick, David Newton believes the team will use their selection on an offensive tackle, a defensive back or a defensive lineman. When asked if the team would trade back for multiple assets, Newton says that “quality will be more important than quantity.”
  • Josh Weinfuss isn’t convinced the Cardinals will re-sign linebacker Sam Acho, stating that the team should be able to find an adequate replacement. Meanwhile, the writer believes the team should try to retain Antonio Cromartie for a reasonable price.
  • If Lions wideout T.J. Jones continues to prove that he’s capable of a bigger role, Ryan Broyles could ultimately find himself without a job, writes Michael Rothstein.
  • Ben Goessling is under the impression that Adrian Peterson will not be playing for the Vikings next season. Instead, he believes the team will go with Jerick McKinnon as their primary running back while pursuing a running back later in the draft.
  • John Keim says the league’s new CBA, which limits the interaction between players and coaches during the offseason, hurts the development of any young quarterback (including Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III).

Poll: Which NFC Contender Will Miss Playoffs?

December 5th, 2014 at 3:33pm CST by Luke Adams

Six teams in the NFC so far this season have won at least two-thirds of their games, and head into Week 14 with records of 8-4 or better. Besides the 7-5 Niners, every other team in the conference is 5-7 or worse, suggesting that the difference between the eventual playoff teams and the rest of the NFC has been fairly well established.

However, the postseason qualifiers won’t be quite so cut-and-dried, since the dismal NFC South must send at least one of its current sub-.500 teams to the playoffs. That means that when the regular season ends, one of those top six teams in the conference will be left on the outside looking in.

Even outside of the South, where the Falcons and Saints are tied at 5-7, division races across the board remain too close to call — the 9-3 Eagles are edging the 9-4 Cowboys, the 9-3 Packers are a game ahead of the 8-4 Lions, and the 9-3 Cardinals are in danger of losing their division lead to the surging 8-4 Seahawks. With Eagles/Seahawks, Eagles/Cowboys, Seahawks/Cardinals, and Packers/Lions contests still on the schedule, the last few weeks of the season will be very interesting. Five non-South playoff spots are up for grabs and six legit contenders are in the mix (seven, if you count the 49ers).

What do you think? Will the Cowboys have their usual December swoon and miss out on a postseason berth? Will the Cardinals’ losing streak continue? Will the Lions, despite upcoming home games against the Bucs and Vikings, be the team that misses out? Or will one of the other clubs currently occupying a playoff spot drop out? Cast your vote below, and feel free to weigh in with your comments as well.

Which NFC contender will miss the playoffs?
Arizona Cardinals (9-3) 33.03% (292 votes)
Detroit Lions (8-4) 26.47% (234 votes)
Dallas Cowboys (9-4) 25.34% (224 votes)
Seattle Seahawks (8-4) 9.16% (81 votes)
Philadelphia Eagles (9-3) 4.52% (40 votes)
Green Bay Packers (9-3) 1.47% (13 votes)
Total Votes: 884
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