Detroit Lions cut five more players
With the 2021 National Football League campaign just a few weeks away, teams have been forced to trim down their preseason rosters in order to meet Tuesday afternoon’s deadline. All teams must have their rosters down to the 80-man limit, ensuring they are compliant with league rules.
On Monday, the Lions announced five more cuts to their training camp squad. Wide receiver Darius Jennings, nose tackle P.J. Johnson, running back Javon Leake, outside linebacker Robert McCray and quarterback Jordan Ta’amu were all let go by the organization.
While none of the releases are shocking, the biggest surprise might be quarterback Ta’amu, who was signed just last week to help alleviate depth issues the club was having at the position. Both Tim Boyle and David Blough missed time last week due to injuries, but they were able to return to Detroit’s preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday. Lions head coach Dan Campbell made it clear he had no issues keeping three quarterbacks on the roster, but only if the situation warranted it.
“I have no problem keeping three, I’d start with that — if there are three that are worthy of keeping,” Campbell said to the media, via the Detroit Free Press. “Right now, I would say that Boyle and Blough both, the more reps they get, the better they’re going to be for it. If you feel like you have three that you can trust, then it is hard to let go one of those guys, it really is.”
Having traded for Jared Goff during the offseason, it looks as though the Lions might go with three quarterbacks having both Boyle and Blough back up Goff.
The Lions still have plenty of decisions to make though prior to trimming down to their final 53-man roster, including how many receivers Campbell will elect to keep. He has been outspoken about third-year receiver Tom Kennedy and the impact he has made in training camp already.
“He just makes plays,” Campbell said of Kennedy, via Pride of Detroit. “I feel like – I’m going to beat this into the ground, but we’re getting to the point now where it’s like you want to find guys that you trust. Ultimately, we can wrap it into this package of, ‘He does this well. Blah blah blah.’ But ultimately, from where I sit and my coordinators and coaches, you want guys you can trust. We trust Tom Kennedy right now.”
Kennedy led the Lions in receptions and receiving yards during the first two preseason games and could explode for a breakout year.
“He’s another guy that does what he’s supposed to do when he’s supposed to do it, he knows where to go, he can play all three spots, and he makes plays,” Campbell continued. “When we need a play, he makes plays and he has just shown up. Once again, it’s hard to ignore it, it just is.”
The Lions finished dead last in the NFC North division last season with an abysmal 5-11 record. They will be eager to get the 2021 campaign started as they continue to build for the future.
