The Detroit Lions made several roster moves on Saturday, raising significant questions for the rest of the season. Here’s a breakdown of their actions:
Placed Carlton Davis, Khalil Dorsey, and Alim McNeill on injured reserve
The decision to put three players on injured reserve (IR) instead of four suggests the Lions believe one of them has a chance to return.
That player might be Carlton Davis, though it’s unclear. If that’s the case, it could mean Derrick Barnes and John Cominsky are likely done for the season.
Interestingly, David Montgomery was not placed on IR. His injury isn’t typically season-ending, and there’s a possibility he could return if the Lions make it to the Super Bowl, which is nearly eight weeks away.
Dr. Colin Looney recently told A to Z Sports that a grade three MCL injury (a tear) usually sidelines a player for 6-8 weeks, so there’s hope Montgomery could make a late-season return.
As for Davis, he might also make it back, but the outlook isn’t as optimistic for Cominsky or Barnes.
It’s also worth noting that these moves leave the Lions with two open roster spots.
Released Isaiah Thomas from the practice squad
Isaiah Thomas, whom the Lions had poached from the Bengals weeks ago, failed to find his footing in Detroit.
After initially being released and re-signed to the practice squad, the Lions have now moved on from him entirely.
Signed CB Stanley Thomas-Oliver to the practice squad
In a corresponding move, the Lions signed cornerback Stanley Thomas-Oliver to the practice squad.
A seventh-round pick by the Panthers in 2020, Thomas-Oliver played three seasons in Carolina before being released last October.
He then spent the rest of the year on the Giants’ practice squad, signing a futures deal before an early-camp injury derailed his 2023 season.
Thomas-Oliver had recently joined the Birmingham Stallions of the UFL but will now bring his 25 games of NFL experience to Detroit.
Made Anthony Pittman poaching from Jaguars official
As reported earlier in the week, the Lions have officially added Anthony Pittman, a special teams standout, to their roster.
Pittman, who was poached from the Jaguars, will contribute to both special teams and defense.
