Allen Park — The Detroit Lions are required to establish an initial 53-man roster by 4 p.m. Tuesday. We’ll use this space to update you with news and reports of cuts as they happen.
Monday
► 7:35 p.m. After a brutal performance in the preseason finale, the Lions are releasing backup quarterback Tim Boyle. The NFL Network first reported the impending cut.
Signed the previous offseason after spending his first three years with the Green Bay Packers, Boyle suffered a thumb injury in the preseason that sidelined him the first nine games of the 2021 campaign. Upon his return, he was immediately thrust into the lineup against Cleveland in place of injured starter Jared Goff.
Ultimately starting three games for Goff, Boyle completed 64.9% of his throws for 526 yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions. He re-signed to a one-year, $2 million deal this offseason and was projected to retain the backup job, but struggled with consistency throughout the offseason program.
In Sunday’s preseason matchup against the Steelers, Boyle completed just 5-of-15 throws, having multiple passes batted down at the line of scrimmage and throwing one directly at a defender that was intercepted.
With the release, the Lions will eat a $1.75 million cap hit tied to contractual guarantees.
► 7:00 p.m. A couple cornerbacks are being let go with Pro Football Focus reporting Mark Gilbert will be cut and the Free Press noting Saivion Smith is out.
The Lions signed Gilbert off the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad last season. The cousin of former NFL star Darrelle Revis, Gilbert logged just 47 snaps with the Lions in 2021. He saw slightly more action than that in three preseason games this offseason, allowing eight receptions on 10 throws his direction, including a pair of touchdowns.
Smith, a physical, tone-setter on the outside, had a strong training camp, but stumbled in the preseason finale, surrenduring five catches for 50 yards and a touchdown, while also drawing a flag for pass interference.
► 5:30 p.m. Tom Kennedy paced the NFL in receptions and receiving yards the first week of the preseason, caught two touchdowns in the second game and finished the exhibition slate with a team-high 16 catches for 143 yards. Still, it wasn’t enough to secure a roster spot, according to the NFL Network.
Originally signed by the Lions in 2019, the former college lacrosse standout spent much of his rookie season on the team’s practice squad. He earned a spot out of training camp last year, but logged just 149 offensive snaps, catching six passes for 54 yards. His biggest play came in the season finale against Green Bay, when he threw a 75-yard touchdown pass to Kalif Raymond on a trick play.
Kennedy had received steady praise from coaches and teammates for his effort and production, but his limitations on special teams ultimately cost him a job.
► 5:10 p.m. Jarrad Davis’ redemption story in Detroit appears to have come to an end. The team is releasing its former first-round pick, five months after re-signing him, according to the NFL Network.
A player coach Dan Campbell never truly wanted to let go, Davis re-signed with the Lions after a one-year stint with the New York Jets. Easy to root for because of his high character and openness about his renewed mental focus, he simply wasn’t able to pass over any of the other options of the depth chart because of his limited contributions on special teams and his one-dimensional skill set as blitzing linebacker.
Davis logged 74 snaps this preseason, primarily with the third defensive grouping, recording eight tackles and a pass breakup.
► 4:18 p.m. The Lions are parting with Devin Funchess, the former Michigan standout who had been attempting to convert from wide receiver to tight end this offseason. The release was first reported by NFL Insider Jordan Schultz.
Funchess was a late addition for the Lions, signing shortly before the start of training camp. He impressed in the preseason opener, catching four passes for 17 yards and a touchdown, but had to miss the second game after suffering a stinger during the joint practices with the Indianapolis Colts.
Funchess logged 21 snaps in the preseason finale against Pittsburgh, catching one pass for four yards, but also drawing a false start the next play.
More: Hard cuts: Here’s our final Detroit Lions 53-man roster projection
► 4:15 p.m. The NFL Network is reporting undrafted rookie receiver Kalil Pimpleton has been released. The former Muskegon High School and Central Michigan star had been featured in the most recent episode of HBO’s “Hard Knocks.”
Pimpleton caught nine passes during the preseason, three in each game, for 69 yards. He also got brief opportunities as both a punt and kickoff returner.
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