| Detroit Free Press
NFL headlines: Chiefs clinch top seed in AFC playoffs
The season is winding down and the playoff picture is coming into focus. Week 16 saw more postseason tickets punched and the Kansas City Chiefs clinching the best record in the league.
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One of the NFL’s worst defenses just made itself more shorthanded.
The Detroit Lions waived safety Jayron Kearse on Monday, a move that was first reported by NFL Network.
Kearse started seven straight games for the Lions, but was inactive for last week’s loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
A late addition to the injury report last week with a hip injury, Kearse had been a regular contributor as a box safety playing alongside Duron Harmon and Tracy Walker. He had 59 tackles in 11 games since serving a three-game suspension to start the season, and was a regular contributor on special teams.
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He is healthy, and could be of interest to playoff teams as a backup/special teams contributor.
The Lions (5-10) have lost three straight games and five of six heading into this week’s season finale against the Minnesota Vikings.
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Harmon, Walker and second-year pro Will Harris likely will see the bulk of the playing time at safety against the Vikings, with the Lions hoping to see more of young safeties Walker and Harris, in particular.
Kearse, who signed a one-year deal with the Lions last spring, was scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent in March.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.