The Detroit Lions are narrowing their roster to the 53-man limit by the NFL deadline at 4 p.m. Tuesday, and here is a rundown of the notable moves and surrounding context as cuts begin to roll in.
Lions cuts confirmed or reported
– Linebacker Anthony Pittman
– Wide receiver Tom Kennedy
– Quarterback Hendon Hooker
– Defensive lineman Mitchell Agude
– Safety Ian Kennelly
– Offensive tackle Dan Skipper
– Wide receiver Jackson Meeks
Trey Hendrickson deal with the Bengals
– A notable league move outside Detroit: Trey Hendrickson has agreed to a big one-year pay raise with the Bengals, creating a revised salary for 2025 and positioning him for free agency after the season.
Dan Skipper’s surprising departure
– The Lions let go of Dan Skipper, a longtime swing tackle who had filled in for an injured Taylor Decker in recent seasons. The move is surprising given his versatility in backup roles and his familiarity with Detroit’s program.
Hooker’s status and quarterback depth
– Hendon Hooker, the rookie quarterback whom the Lions drafted in 2023 after his ACL rehab at Tennessee, has been waived following a preseason that didn’t meet expectations. Hooker appeared in three games last season plus preseason action, completing 6 of 9 passes.
– With Hooker waived, Kyle Allen has emerged as the likely backup behind Jared Goff. Allen, who has NFL experience dating back to 2018, outplayed Hooker in the preseason, including a 5-for-5 outing in the final game.
Kennedy’s release and practice-squad possibility
– Tom Kennedy was released, a move Lions coach Dan Campbell has hinted could be a precursor to a return on the practice squad if needed.
Pittman among the first cuts; a Lions staple on special teams
– Detroit native Anthony Pittman was among the early cuts. A contributor on special teams and a familiar face in the building, Pittman has shown the kind of energy and versatility that often earns teams’ consideration when rosters are rebuilt.
– Campbell has noted that players can be part of the plan, leave, and be brought back later in the year when injuries arise, a pattern Pittman’s career exemplifies.
Injury notes and depth considerations
– Ezekiel Turner suffered an Achilles injury in the preseason and is expected to miss the season, affecting linebacker depth.
– The Lions entered Monday with nine linebackers on the 53-man roster and several veterans competing for back-end depth, including Jack Campbell, Alex Anzalone, and Derrick Barnes, with Grant Stuard, Trevor Nowaske, Zach Cunningham, and DaRon Gilbert in the mix.
Back-up QB market and nearby league moves
– Around the league, backup quarterback moves are shaping depth charts. The Vikings reportedly traded quarterback Sam Howell to the Eagles for draft-pick considerations and signed veteran Carson Wentz to provide a steadier option behind Jalen Hurts.
– The Raiders, facing an extended recovery for Aidan O’Connell, are evaluating experienced backups, while rookie Cam Miller could factor behind Geno Smith in Las Vegas.
What this means for the Lions
– Detroit is balancing the need for experienced depth at tackle, wide receiver, and defensive line with the development potential of younger players who contributed in camp.
– The quarterback room is narrowing, with Kyle Allen likely serving as the primary backup behind Jared Goff, and Hendon Hooker moving on to pursue opportunities elsewhere.
– The Lions will monitor cut-downs and practice-squad opportunities across the league to fill potential holes created by injuries or performance questions.
Summary and outlook
– The Lions are aggressively balancing depth with opportunity as they trim to 53 players. The early cuts include Pittman, Kennedy, Hooker, Agude, Kennelly, Skipper, and Meeks, with the bigger headlines surrounding Skipper’s exit and the Hooker/Allen backup quarterback situation.
– Detroit will likely continue sorting through the remaining roster spots this week, keeping an eye on practice-squad possibilities and late-breaking injuries.
– On the broader league stage, the Hendrickson move and quarterback-market activity highlight how teams are recalibrating for the regular season, which could influence Detroit’s decisions in the days ahead.
Additional value and thoughts
– For Lions fans, the focus now shifts to how the depth chart reshapes around the offensive line and at wide receiver, where emerging players could seize opportunities on returns, special teams, or depth roles.
– The closing window for roster moves invites a careful watch of practice reports and injury updates, as teams often reshuffle the back end of their 53-man rosters right up to the final moment.
– The Lions’ approach—prioritizing depth, keeping an eye on versatile players who can fill multiple spots, and using practice-squad flexibility—could pay off if injuries hit later in the season.
Overall tone: Neutral, with practical moves and strategic decisions shaping Detroit’s roster as expectations for the season begin to take clearer shape. If you’d like, I can add a concise explainer of how the IR-to-return rules work this season and what the Lions’ options are for activating players from injured reserve.