The Detroit Lions are one of the best teams in the NFL right now, but they have a legendary list of names that paved the way. We’re not talking about current Lions stars like Aidan Hutchinson, Amon-Ra St. Brown or Jahmyr Gibbs. We’re talking about the ones you use while playing Immaculate Grid.
There are hundreds of players that spent time in Detroit that you may not remember and it may have been a pit stop on a fading career. One former Lions receiver received an opportunity to revive his career in the UFL but it may have represented his final chance as he could be done with football after his latest release.
Former Lions WR Denzel Mims Released by UFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks
According to James Larsen of UFL Newsroom and PF Newsroom, the UFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks have released wide receiver Denzel Mims. The 27-year-old caught just five passes for 51 yards in the Battlehawks’ first six games this season and produced another disappointing chapter in what has been an underwhelming career.
NEWS: The St. Louis Battlehawks have released WR Denzel Mims.
— James Larsen (@JamesLarsenPFN) May 6, 2025
The former NFL second-rounder had 5 catches for 51 yards this year with the @XFLBattlehawks.
Relatively disappointing #UFL tenure for someone of his caliber. pic.twitter.com/bdLb9B6Rbq
Mims broke into the NFL as a second-round pick by the New York Jets in the 2020 NFL Draft. He caught 23 passes for 357 scoreless yards over nine games in his rookie season, but never built off that campaign as he was marred by a limited route tree and concentration lapses that caused a 10.6% career drop rate according to Pro Football Focus.
After three lackluster seasons, Mims requested a trade and wound up with the Lions before the 2022 season. Mims was injured during camp and was waived by Detroit before spending time on the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad in 2023 and the summer of 2024 with the Jacksonville Jaguars before he was released in training camp.
While Mims was hoping to resurrect his career in the UFL, it appears that opportunity has been squandered. The decision puts his career on life support and potentially leaves him as someone you bring up when talking about random former Lions.