The Detroit Lions have put their pencils down as Tuesday’s roster deadline has come and gone. With teams across the NFL cutting their roster down from 90 players to the 53-man roster they’ll bring into the season, there are a lot more players available on the open market to address needs with the regular season opener just over two weeks away.
Like many teams, the Lions will be combing through the wreckage to see if they can find some buried treasure. While Detroit prioritized depth, cutting quarterback Hendon Hooker and offensive lineman Dan Skipper in favor of players that can play larger roles, they also still have a glaring hole in the secondary, particularly at cornerback.
With Ennis Rakestraw out for the season with a shoulder injury, the Lions could use some insurance behind D.J. Reed, Terrion Arnold, and Amik Robertson, and a former top 10 pick could be a worthy gamble to fill that need.
The #Falcons are releasing former 1st-round CB C.J. Henderson, per sources.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) August 26, 2025
Atlanta plans to put him on PS after a strong training camp. pic.twitter.com/Fx7DvnW2Hs
Lions Should Already Be Calling C.J. Henderson’s Agent Following His Release
The Atlanta Falcons cut cornerback C.J. Henderson as part of their final moves to get down to 53 players on Tuesday afternoon. While the ninth overall pick in the 2020 draft spent just 12 days on the roster, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports that the Falcons would like to get him on their practice squad after a strong training camp.
With that in mind, it already feels like Henderson has a soft landing spot in Atlanta if he wants it. The problem is that the Lions should be the first to cut in line.
Henderson has struggled since coming into the league, first wearing out his welcome with the Jacksonville Jaguars when Urban Meyer and his coaching staff rolled into town. He spent the last three seasons with the Carolina Panthers but posted his worst overall PFF grade in 2023 with a 45.4 overall grade and a 43.9 grade in coverage. Those numbers are even worse considering Henderson has allowed a Hall of Fame caliber stat line with 134 catches, 1,680 yards, and 13 touchdowns with 11 pass breakups and three interceptions over four seasons.
After trying to latch on with the Houston Texans during last year’s training camp, he spent most of the year on the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad and was available until signing with Atlanta on Aug. 14. At this point, Henderson’s upside as a shutdown corner is out the window but he could also be a lottery ticket for a team like Detroit at age 26.
The Lions don’t need much help in the starting lineup, but Henderson could be a valuable asset as a depth piece or even as a member of the practice squad. If the Lions were to pick him up and he didn’t pan out, they would be out of an extremely short-term deal and could move on with minimal ramifications.
Henderson’s track record in the NFL probably isn’t attractive to Lions fans. But it’s the type of move teams will look to make now that their 53-man roster is finalized.