The Detroit Lions made another roster move on Wednesday, signing USFL wide receiver Maurice Alexander and waiving injured running back Greg Bell.
The Detroit Lions continued to move pieces through the back end of the roster spots before Wednesday’s training camp practice. They have signed wide receiver Maurice Alexander, and waived injured running back Greg Bell.
With the retirement of Corey Sutton and Quintez Cephus suffering an injury during Tuesday’s practice, the Lions were looking a little thin for camp depth at wide receiver.
Bell suffered a hip/back last week, and if he clears waivers he would come back to the Lions on IR. Then the Lions could keep him on IR, or release him with an injury settlement and allow him to become a free agent.
Alexander went undrafted out of Florida International in 2020, and he failed to latch on anywhere in the NFL during COVID. The reboot of the USFL gave him an opportunity this year, and he took advantage.
Playing for the Philadelphia Stars, Alexander had 20 catches for 234 yards and two touchdowns. He led the USFL with a 31.5 yard kickoff return average and in total kickoff return yards (787). Among players who had at least 10 punt returns, he was also third in the USFL in punt return average (12.6). He earned All-USFL honors as a return man.
Lions picked Maurice Alexander from tryout group
The Lions had three wide receivers in for a tryout on Tuesday–Alexander, Johnnie Dixon and Taywan Taylor and they chose Alexander.
Kalif Raymond is the favorite to be the Lions’ punt returner, and Godwin Igwebuike is the favorite to be the primary kickoff returner again. But the addition of Alexander to the mix in camp, perhaps for both jobs to some degree, is interesting. He had a punt return touchdown in each of his final two seasons at FIU.
As the Lions go through training camp, the culture of competition continues to be fostered.