Teams around the NFL need to trim their rosters down from 90 to 75 players. That means 15 players will get cut and soon either be out of a job, or end up on another teams roster or practice squad. Detroit will have some thinking to do when they shrink the roster down. They did make a trade yesterday, trading wide receiver Jeremy Kerley to the San Francisco 49ers for offensive lineman Brandon Thomas, giving the receiving core in Detroit one less player and may give those people fighting for a roster spot another week to show that they can be one of the 53 come Saturday. Also, Today they released Geoff Schwartz – a move done early enough to give him good options elsewhere. Let’s take a look at which remaining 15 players we think could end up getting cut by the deadline tomorrow.
Cut #1 – TE Adam Fuehne
First up on the list is Adam Fuehne and at a position the Lions have injury issues at. Adam has only one catch for five yards this preseason, so his lack of production is the clear reason why he will be on the outside looking it. Fuehne was an undrafted free agent and had an uphill battle coming in, and sadly he will lose that battle.
Cut #2 – TE Matthew Mulligan
Now you are probably wondering, why would Detroit cut the tight end that started preseason week one? Well, because he hasn’t done anything. Sure he has done well in blocking, but receiving wise he hasn’t done a thing and while he is a blocking tight end, he won’t be good enough to make the final roster. Andrew Quarless is suspended for the first two games of the season, but he is a better option for the team than Mulligan.
Cut #3 – OL Lemuel Jeanpierre
Yesterday’s trade for Brandon Thomas just added another name to this list of many offensive lineman on this team. Jeanpierre was signed on August 17th and hasn’t really had a chance to show off his skills. He mostly plays guard and center and with those spots already having depth to begin with, he had no chance to make the roster to begin with.
Cut #4 – OT Luke Marquardt
Another offensive lineman that gets cut here. Marquardt was fighting to be a backup as the depth at tackle was pretty much set coming in the season, but he wanted to prove the coaches wrong. At training camp Marquardt was getting blown up and in the preseason he hasn’t looked any better. Detroit has better options on the roster and can lose him.
Cut #5 – DT Kerry Hyder
Kerry Hyder is having a bad two weeks. Hyder got flagged and fined for a hit on AJ McCarron during the preseason week two game and the fine was for $18,231, more than what me made for Training Camp. Now he is unemployed. Hyder had seven tackles in the three games he played in and with Detroit having a lot of depth at the defensive tackle spot, Hyder would have had to have one or two really good games to even be considered on the final 53 man roster.
Cut #6 – DL Louis Palmer
This is the easiest one on the list. Louis Palmer has yet to do anything for the Lions, no recorded tackles, nothing in the first three preseason games. While Palmer did go to a great school in Central Michigan University, he won’t make it far with the Detroit Lions.
Cut #7 – DE Deonte Gibson
With only two tackles, one tackle for loss in just three preseason games, Gibson hasn’t shown much promise. Along with depth at the defensive tackle position pretty much set, Gibson never really had a chance to begin with.
Cut #8 – LB Chi Chi Ariguzo
After getting six tackles in the first two games, Chi Chi looked like he could have a chance being a backup linebacker in Detroit, but he was quiet during the third game and that will cost him a spot on the team.
Cut #9 – LB Dominique Tovell
Another very easy pick is Dominique Tovell. He hasn’t recorded any sort of stat this preseason, so the Lions won’t see a point in keeping him for another week.
Cut #10 – CB Brandon McGee
Two players in a row with no contribution to the preseason. McGee did just join the team six days ago, but in the one game to show what he has, he shows nothing at all.
Cut #11 – CB Charles Washington
Getting two tackle and one pass deflection in the first two games, but getting nothing in the third game showed Washington’s future on this team. Cornerback has a lot of guys fighting for a job, and Washington won’t be one of the guys fighting for another week.
Cut #12 – CB Adairius Barnes
Getting only three tackles in the Bengals week two game, Barnes hasn’t done much else. Detroit has other cornerbacks who have contributed more and have a better shot at making the team over him.
Cut #13 – S Isaiah Johnson
Seven tackles in three games isn’t horrible, as he has the most on this list. Thing is, the safety spot is filled with backups and with Johnson being on the practice squad last year and Detroit drafting a safety this year, the writing was on the wall for Johnson from the get go.
Cut #14 – K Devon Bell
This move shouldn’t be a shock at all to the fans and team. Matt Prater is the teams kicker, and majority of the league signs another kicker to give their starters competition, and that is all Bell was. Bell ended up punting and kicking for the Lions, finishing with six punts for 262 yards, one ending up inside the 20, and going 2/3 in field goal attempts, his longest being 42 yards out and the one he missed was a huge whiff and a horrible kick, making his future to sign with another team harder.
Cut #15 – LS Jimmy Landes
The battle between him and Don Muhlbach was close during training camp and during preseason. Last week against the Baltimore Ravens though, Landes messed up twice. While they didn’t cost the team any points, his snaps weren’t accurate and the holder had to adjust quickly for the kicker. Muhlbach won’t do anything like that since he is a former pro bowler. Detroit drafted Landes to possibly replace Muhbach, but it looks like Landes isn’t good enough.
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