Bears Audition Rueben Randle, Others
The Bears worked out a group of wide receivers which included Rueben Randle, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (Twitter links).Keshawn Martin, Dres Anderson, and Quinshad Davis also participated in the Monday workout. On the other side of the ball, the Bears auditioned defensive backs D’Joun Smith, Trae Elston, Tevin McDonald, Rolan Milligan, and Varmah Sonie. 
The Eagles signed Randle in March with the hope that he could fulfill his potential in a different jersey. However, he disappointed in Philly just as he often did for their divisional rivals. It has been said that Randle’s work ethic was suspect while with the G-Men and he may not have been giving it his all in camp with the Eagles. Not only did Randle not make the team, but he was cut loose before the 75-man deadline. Still only 25, Randle averaged 56 receptions, 782 yards, and six touchdowns over the past three seasons with the Giants.
Smith, a 2015 third-round pick of the Colts, was waived by Indianapolis with an injury designation in September. Since then, he has had workout for the Saints, Jets, and Packers and had a cup of coffee with the Lions’ practice squad. It’s fair to wonder whether Smith is healthy given his injury history.
Lions Trim Roster To 53
The Lions have released offensive lineman Brandon Thomas, as Rand Getlin of NFL.com tweets. Thomas came to Detroit in the Jeremy Kerley trade earlier this week. 
Thomas, a former third-round pick, has never taken a snap in the NFL. He missed his entire rookie season in 2014 while recovering from a torn ACL suffered in college, and didn’t appear in a game during his sophomore campaign. Thomas wasn’t need in the Bay Area given that Anthony Davis has come out of retirement and shifted to guard and he apparently wasn’t wanted in Detroit either.
Thomas obviously wasn’t the Lions’ only victim of cut day. Cuts include:
- RB George Winn (Twitter link via Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com)
- S Isaiah Johnson (Twitter link via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press)
- WR Jace Billingsley (Twitter link via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press)
- WR T.J. Jones (Twitter link via Justin Rogers of the Detroit News)
- LB Khaseem Greene (Twitter link via Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com)
- OL Gabe Ikard (Twitter link via Rothstein)
- OL Brandon Thomas (Twitter link via Rothstein)
- QB Jake Rudock (link via Birkett)
- Ol Michael Ola (link via Rothstein)
- TE Adam Fuehne (link via Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
- CB Alex Carter
- WR Quinshad Davis
- LB Jayson DiManche
- LB Zaviar Gooden
- C Gabe Ikard
- WR Jay Lee
- T Luke Marquardt
- DT Caraun Reid
- DB Charles Washington
- DT Gabe Wright
- C Lemuel Jeanpierre
- CB Darrin Walls
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/1/16
Here are today’s minor moves.
- Just a few days after cutting him, the Jaguars have signed wide receiver Shaq Evans, as Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets.
- The Lions signed wide receiver Quinshad Davis and waived linebacker Chi Chi Ariguzo, according to a team announcement. Davis was cut by the Lions earlier this week as a part of their effort to get down to a 75-man roster. The North Carolina product hauled in 55 catches for 638 yards and four touchdowns in his senior season last year.
Lions Cut Several Players
The Lions are inching closer to the 75-man limit in advance of the Tuesday deadline. On Monday, the Lions announced that the following players have been dropped:
- CB Crezdon Butler
- TE Matthew Mulligan
- WR Quinshad Davis
- OG Chase Farris
- DE Quanterus Smith
- DE Louis Palmer
- DE Deonte Gibson
- CB Rashaad Reynolds
- K Devon Bell
The Lions have also placed rookie long snapper Jimmy Landes on injured reserve. That means Don Muhlbach will likely continue to serve as the Lions’ long snapper.
Earlier today, the Lions also released offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz, meaning that they have shed ten players from the roster today. With today’s transactions, the Lions roster currently stands at 78 players.
Lions Sign Taylor Decker, Eight Draftees, 12 UDFAs
The Lions have officially locked up nearly all of their draft class, along with a dozen undrafted free agents, the team announced today in a pair of press releases. The most notable name in the group is Ohio State offensive tackle Taylor Decker, who was Detroit’s first-round pick, but the team has also signed eight other draftees to go along with its 12 new UDFAs.
Of Detroit’s 10 draft picks, only second-round defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson remains unsigned for now. Here’s the complete list of draft picks secured by the Lions:
- 1-16: Taylor Decker, T (Ohio State)
- 3-95: Graham Glasgow, C (Michigan)
- 4-111: Miles Killebrew, S (Southern Utah)
- 5-151: Joe Dahl, T (Washington State): (previously reported)
- 5-169: Antwione Williams, LB (Georgia Southern)
- 6-191: Jake Rudock, QB (Michigan)
- 6-202: Anthony Zettel, DT (Penn State): (previously reported)
- 6-210: Jimmy Landes, LS (Baylor): (previously reported)
- 7-236: Dwayne Washington, RB (Washington)
And here are the 12 undrafted free agents who signed contracts with the Lions:
- CB Adairius Barnes (Louisiana Tech)
- WR Jace Billingsley (Eastern Oregon)
- WR Quinshad Davis (North Carolina)
- DE James DeLoach (Georgia)
- G Chase Farris (Ohio State) ($20K guarantee, per Aaron Wilson)
- TE Adam Fuehne (Southern Illinois)
- DE Deonte Gibson (Northwestern)
- WR Jay Lee (Baylor)
- DB Charles Washington (Fresno State)
- CB Ian Wells (Ohio)
- TE Cole Wick (Incarnate Word) ($10K bonus, per Dave Birkett)
- G Andrew Zeller (Maryland)