The Detroit Lions had to do a lot of maneuvering to get around the NFL’s roster rules. That included only officially signing 15 players to their practice squad Friday and making the Donovan Peoples-Jones signing official Thursday.
It also included keeping John Cominsky on the 53-man roster until Thursday so they could put him on IR designated to return. That opened up a roster spot on the 53-man roster.
Kyle Peko is likely to get promoted from the practice squad to the 53-man roster and that will open up a practice squad spot. The Lions also released C.J. Moore on Thursday. So that’s two open practice squad spots. Have you gone cross eyed yet?
The message here is that there is one spot open on the practice squad and a second is likely right around the corner. We scoured the market to find five free agent players that would fit perfectly with the Lions.
K Greg Joseph
Lions GM Brad Holmes said on Thursday that the Lions could be looking to add a veteran kicker to their practice squad soon. Here’s one right here. Joseph has been in the league since 2018. He’s spent most of his career being the Vikings kicker. Now he’s a free agent after not making the Packers roster this summer. He’d be a good guy to have around and help Bates continue to work on his accuracy.
T Matt Nelson
You might remember Nelson since he was the Lions starting right tackle during the 2021 season. He was just released by the Giants and they did not bring him back to their practice squad. Nelson could be a good option for a tackle to elevate in the regular season while Giovanni Manu continues his development.
Edge Breeland Speaks
The UFL Defensive Player of the Year didn’t make a roster or a practice squad this year. Here’s a chance to get the former Michigan Panthers’ star back in Detroit. Having him work with Terrell Williams can help get the most out of this once promising NFL prospect.
DT Siaki Ika
Same exact story as Speaks. Ika was a third-round draft pick in last years draft and he was expected to be a solid player in the NFL. The Browns didn’t want to wait for him and it looked like he might be a long term project. With Terrell Williams running the Lions defensive line, this might be Ika’s best chance.
CB J.C. Jackson
I don’t know if anyone else has noticed, but there’s no cornerbacks on this practice squad. Here’s a veteran and former start that’s still just 28-years-old. Jackson would be a good guy to have around in case any injuries occur during the season. He just needs to be somewhere where he can get back to the player he was just a short time ago.