Denzel Mims’ brief time is almost up in Detroit.
Less than a month after swinging a trade with the New York Jets to acquire the 25-year-old receiver, the Lions have placed Mims on waivers with an injury designation, the team announced Friday. In a corresponding roster move, the team is signing former Los Angeles Chargers receiver Jason Moore.
Mims, a 2020 second-round pick who spent his first three NFL seasons with the Jets, has missed the last two weeks in training camp due to ankle and calf injuries. And based on Lions coach Dan Campbell’s comments, this transaction comes as no surprise. Asked for an update on Mims’ status Thursday morning, Campbell replied, “He’s in there; he’s in the room.” As for whether he was close to returning, he added, “We’ll see; we’ll see. I wish I could give you more.”
With Jameson Williams expected to miss the rest of the preseason due to a hamstring injury suffered Wednesday in a joint practice with Jacksonville — and the first six weeks of the regular season due to NFL suspension — the Lions’ receiver room was in need of reinforcements.. Amon-Ra St. Brown is sidelined by a minor ankle injury and isn’t expected to play in either of the Lions’ final two preseason games. Tom Kennedy (shoulder) already is on injured reserve, Maurice Alexander missed practice this week with an undisclosed injury, and Trinity Benson just returned from a leg injury suffered earlier in camp.
St. Brown, Kalif Raymond, Josh Reynolds and Marvin Jones are locks to make the 53-man roster, but Campbell made it clear the competition behind them is “wide open,” with undrafted rookies Dylan Drummond and Chase Cota squarely in the mix.
“We’re looking for guys and we have a track record in a three-year period here,” Campbell said. “It doesn’t matter where you’ve been drafted, or who you are, you’ve got an opportunity. If you want to go earn it, go get it.”
Moore, a 6-3, 205-pound former Division II standout at Findley (Ohio), played in 20 games over the past four seasons with the Chargers. But he has just six career receptions, in addition to his work on special teams.
If Mims goes unclaimed on waivers, as expected, he’ll revert to the Lions’ injured-reserve list, where he’ll likely then be released with an injury settlement. The late-July trade between the Lions and Jets included a conditional pick swap that would’ve sent a 2024 sixth-round pick to New York and a 2025 seventh-rounder to Detroit. But, that was based on Mims’ making the Lions’ initial 53-man roster next month, so neither draft selection will be conveyed.