When it comes to the roster cut downs, we know it’s temporary and dynamic. If the Lions are keeping an odd number of guys, it’s because they already have a good feeling of who is looking for what and they are protecting as much as they can. I think in a lot of ways, the final roster cuts are more like an expansion draft. Teams are allowed to protect a certain number of players, and they protect the guys they need most, while making some side deals and taking some calculated risks that certain guys won’t appeal to teams outside of their own.
It will be interesting to see what happens beginning this afternoon, who the Lions might claim or who ultimately is brought back to the PS. Things should start coming more into focus by this evening.
I didn’t realize Lucky is 29. Martin is 28 as well. I was thinking these were young guys right out of college watching them in preseason. I was way off.
Small’s an undersized 2024 UDFA with 0 career statistics who had almost as many concussions this preseason (2) as he did carries (3). To keep him on the initial 53, the Lions must’ve really liked what they saw in training camp, because he did very little in the games. I can’t believe any team — including a RB-needy Packers team — would’ve claimed him.
To me, it’s more likely the Lions now view Vaki as a RB in name only, and Small is simply RB4 (or even RB3 to start the year, since Pacheco may be out a while).
They’ve waited in the past to designate a player who was obviously going to miss significant time. Who knows why but they did it last year… I forget with who …. Was it Rodrigo?
I’m with you that Dortch will be playing against New Orleans and that Brad has a purpose in cutting him other than because he can. Dortch’s guaranteed money and the gaping roster hole makes that likely.
I think Small made the team because of Pacheco and Vaki uncertainties and because of his special team chops plus mini-me Gibbs juice. I also think FTP is too clever by a half and way, way down on any list Brad made for Small on the 53. The Lions will pull the curtain before too long and clear this up their questioning fans. Sometimes it seems like we’re ants being fried on the sidewalk to them. But they do it with love.
Rigo was recovering from his ACL injury, so he missed the preseason, hence wasn’t on an IR-to-return list – he was pupped.
They surely did it before 2024, though – before then, there wasn’t a rule allowing 2 additional guys to get that designation before roster cutdowns (so they don’t count against the 8 returns for the regular season).
2 off season free agent signings (TE Conklin) that got cut at the deadline…the way the staff was talking about his punt return ability, thought for sure he was a lock…it sure doesn’t give me a lot of confidence in our pro scouting
Alternatively the other guys they kept were scouted as well and you should never be overly concerned if you end up keeping the better player.
In this situation idk if martin is a better option than dortch, what i will say is that if wr 4, option like 7, on gameday leads to losses we have a lot worse problems.
“well Dortch it !”
