Allen Park — The Detroit Lions established the team’s initial 53-man roster Tuesday afternoon, parting with 26 players. Here are some initial thoughts on the team’s decisions.
► Blough wins backup, for now
After the preseason finale Sunday, Lions coach Dan Campbell cryptically said he had clarity regarding the team’s backup quarterback position, but declined to elaborate further. That obviously left things open to interpretation and speculation.
Had David Blough done enough with three mediocre preseason outings to secure the job over Tim Boyle, who had wilted against the Steelers on Sunday (5-for-15, 64 yards one interception)? Or was the team going to cut both contenders and look for a better option among the scrap heap of the other 31 teams’ cuts?
Well, Blough is still here, at least for the moment. There’s not to say the team isn’t scouring the waiver wire, which offers a handful of young, intriguing options including Cooper Rush, Trace McSorley, Kellen Mond and Chris Streveler, who tore up the preseason with a 124.6 passer rating for the Jets.
But if it’s Blough, it will mark his fourth year on Detroit’s roster and his first where he enters a season as the clear-cut backup. The former Purdue standout hasn’t started a game for the Lions since his rookie year, and only thrown 10 passes the past two seasons. For his career, he’s completed 54.3% of this throws for 1,033 yards, four touchdowns and seven interceptions.
By releasing Boyle, the Lions admit an offseason mistake, which incurs some financial ramifications. The one-year contract he signed included $1.75 million in guarantees that will continue to count toward the team’s salary cap.
► A few small surprises
The Lions didn’t make any jaw-dropping decisions Tuesday, but there were a couple of mild surprises, particularly in the running back room, where the team kept second-year man Jermar Jefferson over veterans Justin Jackson and Godwin Igwebuike.
Jefferson, who the team selected in the seventh round last year, received more carries than any of Detroit’s backs during the preseason and did the least with them. Taking 22 handoffs across three games, he averaged 3.3 yards, and that would have been much worse had he not gained 27 on a third-and-long draw against the Steelers.
Additionally, Jefferson consistently struggled as a pass catcher throughout the offseason, regularly bobbling short throws and putting several on the ground.
Contrast that against Jackson, a four-year vet who came to Detroit averaging 5.0 yards per carry for his career and rubber-stamped his abilities by racking up 109 yards on 18 carries in the preseason.
As for Igwebuike, he finished fourth in the NFL in kick return average and was more reliable than Jefferson in other special-teams areas, as well.
On the defensive side of the ball, A.J. Parker and Anthony Pittman were both let go.
Parker, a starter last season, looked to have the nickel corner job on lock until former first-round pick Mike Hughes surged across the finish line the final two weeks of camp. With backups Will Harris and rookie Chase Lucas offering more on special teams, Parker was left on the outside looking in.
Speaking of special teams, no one played more snaps with those units for the Lions last season than Pittman. But with Josh Woods and Chris Board offering more extensive resumes in the linebacker room, the Wayne State product was the odd man out.
► Lions go light at receiver
A year ago, with significantly more question marks at the position, the Lions kept seven receivers on the team’s initial 53-man roster. Now, with clearly better talent in that room, Detroit felt compelled to keep only five on Tuesday.
So much for that Trinity Benson/Tom Kennedy battle we’d all been monitoring so closely throughout training camp.
Kennedy, despite leading the team in receiving during the preseason with 16 catches for 143 yards and two scores, was waived. Without a doubt, his lack of versatility as a slot-only option with limited special teams ability hurt his chances. That said, he’s an easy add back to the practice squad, assuming he clears waivers.
As for Benson, he was waived/injured with an unknown issue likely suffered in the preseason finale. The Lions had desperately sought to find ways he could contribute throughout camp, particularly on special teams, where he worked as a kickoff returner and gunner on punt coverage. But through it all, he never showed a dominant skill in any role.
► One specialist answered, another up in the air
The Lions settled on Austin Seibert at kicker after a hotly contested camp battle with Riley Patterson. Both had kicked well in preseason action, but it was clear throughout the offseason Seibert had the stronger leg. He’ll be expected to put that to use on kickoffs, as well.
Conversely, it’s not immediately clear who will serve as Detroit’s kick returner. Igwebuike thrived in that role last year, but never really got a real shot in camp to retain the job. And in the preseason, no one showed more big-play ability than Maurice Alexander, who joined the Lions late after earning all-league honors in the USFL during the spring. But he didn’t make the cut, either.
Among the options who handled kickoffs during the preseason, only Craig Reynolds remains with the team. He’ll obviously be an option, but it would take him out of the lead blocking role with that units. Other options are the speedy Jefferson and Kalif Raymond, who was solid returning punts for Detroit last season.
► Shuffle still to come
The initial 53-man roster is rarely the group of players the team takes into Week 1. There are two things that merit monitoring the next 24 hours. First, will the team create any additional roster spots by moving a player or two to injured reserve?
It’s important to note that a player is only eligible to return off injured reserve if they are part of the original 53-man roster. The Lions have three players — safety Ifeatu Melifonwu, defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike and linebacker Julian Okwara — who haven’t practiced for weeks and could each land on IR.
Secondly, there’s the waiver wire. Campbell made it clear the team is on the hunt for upgrades at any position and ready to take advantage of being No. 2 in the claim order, based on last year’s 3-13-1 record.
More than 600 players are going to be available before claims are awarded at noon Wednesday, so stay tuned.
► Streak kept alive
Congratulations are in order for defensive tackle Demetrius Taylor, who overcame the odds to make the initial roster as an undrafted rookie free agent. Assuming he can stick through Week 1, it will mark the 13th consecutive year the team has had an undrafted rookie in the fold for the season opener and 22nd player overall during that stretch.
Lions’ initial 53-man roster
Quarterback: Jared Goff, David Blough
Running back: D’Andre Swift, Jamaal Williams, Craig Reynolds, Jermar Jefferson
Wide receiver: Amon-Ra St. Brown, DJ Chark, Josh Reynolds, Kalif Raymond, Quintez Cephus
Tight End: T.J. Hockenson, Brock Wright, Shane Zylstra, James Mitchell
Offensive line: Taylor Decker, Penei Sewell, Jonah Jackson, Halapoulivaati Vaitai, Frank Ragnow, Matt Nelson, Evan Brown, Logan Stenberg, Tommy Kraemer
Defensive line: Aidan Hutchinson, Charles Harris, Austin Bryant, John Cominsky, Alim McNeill, Michael Brockers, Levi Onwuzurike, Isaiah Buggs, Demtrius Taylor
Linebacker: Alex Anzalone, Derrick Barnes, Malcolm Rodriguez, Chris Board, Josh Woods, Julian Okwara
Secondary: Amani Oruwariye, Jeff Okudah, Will Harris, Mike Hughes, Bobby Price, Tracy Walker, DeShon Elliott, JuJu Hughes, Kerby Joseph, Ifeatu Melifonwu, Chase Lucas
Specialists: Jack Fox, Scott Daly, Austin Seibert
Injured lists: Jason Cabinda, Jameson Williams, Romeo Okwara, Josh Paschal, Jerry Jacobs
Full list of cuts
Released:
Quarterback Tim Boyle, linebacker Jarrad Davis, tight end Devin Funchess, defensive tackle Bruce Hector, running back Justin Jackson, offensive tackles Kendall Lamm and Dan Skipper.
Waived:
Wide receiver Maurice Alexander, cornerback Cedric Boswell, tight end Derrick Deese, offensive tackle Obinna Eze, cornerback Mark Gilbert, linebacker James Houston, running back Godwin Igwebuike, wide receiver Tom Kennedy, cornerback A.J. Parker, kicker Riley Patterson, offensive tackle Darrin Paulo, wide receiver Kalil Pimpleton, linebacker Anthony Pittman, cornerback Saivion Smith
Waived/injured:
Defensive end Eric Banks, wide receiver Trinity Benson, defensive tackle Jashon Cornell, guard Kevin Jarvis, safety C.J. Moore
jdrogers@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @Justin_Rogers