DETROIT, MICHIGAN – SEPTEMBER 11: Safety Tracy Walker III #21 of the Detroit Lions celebrates a sack in the second quarter of the game at Ford Field on September 11, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Along with placing Tracy Walker on IR, the Detroit Lions made some roster moves on Tuesday afternoon.
It was a mere formality, and on Tuesday afternoon the Detroit Lions made it official. Among the roster moves the team made, safety Tracy Walker was placed on injured reserve. The torn Achilles he suffered in Week 3 against the Minnesota Vikings will end his season.
JuJu Hughes stepped in for Walker against the Vikings, so he’ll presumably start Week 4 against the Seattle Seahawks. Rookie Kerby Joseph and second-year man Ifeatu Melifonwu are theoretically also in the mix for snaps in Walker’s stead.
In a corresponding move to placing Walker on IR, linebacker Anthony Pittman was signed from the practice squad to the active roster. Taking Pittman’s place on the practice squad is wide receiver Josh Johnson.
Pittman has been elevated from the practice squad for all three games this season, playing a total of 66 special teams snaps and four defensive snaps. He had exhausted the three “free” practice squad elevations before the Lions had to sign him to the 53-man roster if they wanted to keep playing him. So with Walker’s season over, Pittman presumably became the most obvious player for the Lions to sign to the 53-man roster.
Detroit Lions add wide receiver to practice squad as depth may become a concern
Johnson is an undrafted rookie out of Tulsa. The Lions cut him in August, and he had not been picked up by another team. He had a nice final collegiate season in 2021 (83 catches for 1,114 yards), and it is notable that he’s a slot receiver.
The status of Amon-Ra St. Brown (right ankle) is possibly in doubt for Sunday against the Seahawks. Josh Reynolds also suffered an injury of his own against the Vikings, but his status is unclear right now. So the Lions may need a body at wide receiver, and they’ve added one they could elevate from the practice squad for Sunday’s game if necessary.