Lions reach the 53 roster limit after cutdown (2021 season )

[D6]

Detroit Lions keep Tom Kennedy as sixth WR, cut both kickers to set initial 53-man roster


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This new thread is a continuation of the following thread:

Lions projected 53 man roster ( 2021 season )

detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/1092/lions-projected-roster-2021-season


This thread relates to the following threads:


Colts 27, Lions 17: Pre-Season Game # 3 ( 2021 )

detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/1155/colts-lions-season-game-2021


Lions 2021 Training Camp Preview

detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/1050/lions-2021-training-camp-preview



Breshad Perriman quotes/ info: 2021 season

detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/1082/breshad-perriman-quotes-info-season


Lions re-sign RFA CB Mike Ford

detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/952/lions-sign-rfa-mike-ford


Jahlani Tavai quotes/ info: 2021 season

detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/1053/jahlani-tavai-quotes-info-season

Lions release LB Tavante Beckett

detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/1160/lions-release-lb-tavante-beckett

Lions to sign K Randy Bullock ( UFA-Bengals )

detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/972/lions-sign-randy-bullock-bengals


Lions sign K Zane Gonzalez ( UFA-Cardinals ) K M.Wright cut

detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/1127/lions-sign-gonzalez-cardinals-wright



Unlike on Monday when the Lions released Tyrell Crosby and Mike Ford as initial part of the cutdown from 80 players to 53 players, from my point of view, there were no major surprise Lions cuts on Tuesday other than the Lions cutting both Kickers on the roster AND BOTH ( not just one ) Backup Nickel CBs Nickell Robey-Coleman and Corn Elder were released.

Though I believe there's a greater chance the Lions will re-sign one of the team's Kickers released on Tuesday, I think there's a realistic chance that NRC or Elder could be re-signed sometime from today to after the opening game vs. SF. Jerry Jacobs, who beat the odds as an UDFRA to survive the cutdown to 53, is probably the current backup Nickel CB to UDFRA CB A.J. Parker. Jacobs mainly was used on the outside as the summer moved along.

Bruce Hector being released wasn't really a surprise but I had him barely making the Lions 53 man roster in my projection. Hector clearly got caught in a numbers game. I think the Lions ended up keeping John Penisini ( at least through the cutdown.to 53 ) over Bruce Hector is otherwise, the Lions didn't have a natural NT type as a backup to rookie 3rd Round Pick Alim McNeill. If Hector clears waivers ( my guess is he will be claimed by at least one other team ( slightly over 50-50 chance he will be claimed ) , he definitely should be a Practice Squad Priority .


It's a given the Lions will add another Offensive Tackle.

Gerald Reynolds got caught in a numbers game. If Reynolds isn't claimed ( I think there's about a 40 % chance he will claimed by another team ), I think be should be a Practice Squad priority.

No surprise with the Lions only going with T.J. Hockenson and Darren Fells at TE, in the cutdown to 53. I think it's a close call whether the Lions will add a 3rd TE to the 53 man roster sometime before the opener vs. SF or activate a TE/ FB from the Practice Squad for the 49ers game.

The greatest surprise by far for me, regarding a player surviving the cut down to 53, is CB Bobby Price. I thought the Lions would expose Price to waivers. He' s definitely a project at both CB and on Special Teams. The Lions went with higher long term potential than a player who very likely could help more in the short term.

My guess is Da'Shawn Hand will be replaced on I.R. Bruce Hector would be a good re-signing to the 53 man roster if he's not claimed off waivers AND Hand is placed on IR.

[D6]

6 takeaways from the Lions’ initial 53-man roster

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I didn't see the consistency in Bobby Price on Special Teams in the pre-'season that he apparently displayed in Practice. Having said that, his upside as a CB and on Special Teams fit the long term vision of Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell. Even if Price doesn't progress well enough and is released ( P.S. would be a possibility if he was unclaimed ), CBs the Lions released are all replaceable as players.

Jerry Jacoby reported was getting Practice Reps at Nickel / Slot CB early in training camp. His versatility is a plus

The Lions were one of the oldest teams in recent seasons. Now, the Lions are one of the youngest teams. The youth of the current 6 man CB unit definitely stands out.

I also went with just T.J. Hockenson and Darren Fells as my Lions cutdown to 53 projection. On the other side of the coin, I went with only 4 WRs. The Lions going with 6 WRs, including trade acquisition of Trinity Benson from the Denver Broncos, is something I didn't expect. It remains to be seen if a TE/ FB will be added to the 53 man roster before the opener vs. the 49ers or whether the Lions will only use the Practice Squad at least through the 49ers game, to fill the void?

[D6]

Lions have the NFL's second-youngest roster

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The Lions 53 man roster 9 days before the season opener vs. the 49ers appears to be the youngest Lions team that I can recall. I'm not sure if it's even remotely close, compared to any Lions team since the beginning of the 1990s.

The overall approach makes a great amount of sense, when considering the Lions not meeting expectations over the last 10 years, overall history since after the 1957 season, a new regime, and the mutual decision of Matthew Stafford being traded.