The league-wide deadline to trim rosters to 53 players has come and gone, but the Detroit Lions are not done making moves just yet.
After finalizing their roster coming out of training camp, Dan Campbell and company made a surprising move on Wednesday morning by shipping a veteran starter out of town following the emergence of a rookie during the exhibition season.
According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Lions have agreed to send veteran wide receiver Tim Patrick to the Jacksonville Jaguars. In exchange for Patrick, Detroit will receive a 2026 sixth-round draft pick from the Jaguars, per Mark Long of the Associated Press.
Trade! The #Lions are sending WR Tim Patrick to the #Jaguars, per source. pic.twitter.com/71o7328N2T
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 27, 2025
Lions Trade WR Tim Patrick After Standout Preseason from Isaac Teslaa
The Lions knew they were adding a very talented player to the fold when they selected former Arkansas Razorbacks standout Isaac Teslaa in the third round of the 2025 draft. Did they think they would be adding a player who would force his way into the starting lineup by Week 1? That is less certain, but it appears to be exactly how things have played out following the preseason.
By trading Patrick to Jacksonville, a spot in the starting lineup alongside Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams has opened, and the rookie wideout seems like the most natural fit to slide into that role.
Given the way that Teslaa performed during the preseason, Detroit had all the reasons in the world to make this move now. In his three preseason appearances, Teslaa reeled in 10 of his 13 targets for 146 yards receiving and three touchdowns.
Compare those numbers to the one reception for 22 yards on four targets that Patrick turned in before Wednesday's trade, and it is understandable why the Lions are willing to roll the dice on the wideout who has a similar build but is eight years younger.
While it is one thing to get the job done during the exhibition campaign, Detroit is putting its faith in Teslaa to help it achieve its goals for the 2025 campaign. The biggest of which is a Vince Lombardi Trophy.