Surprise Lion Won't Make the 53-Man Roster

Detroit Lions wide receiver Tim Patrick (17) walks off the field after a 45-31 loss to the Washington Commanders at the NFC divisional round at Ford Field in Detroit on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Tim Patrick (17) walks off the field after a 45-31 loss to the Washington Commanders at the NFC divisional round at Ford Field in Detroit on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

When the Detroit Lions play their final preseason game against the Houston Texans on Saturday afternoon, it will be the final data point toward constructing the final 53-man roster. Players on the roster bubble have spent all summer battling for a spot on the team, and it could come down to the final 60 minutes to decide which players will make the team.

For a squad that went 15-2 one year ago, the bar is high. But it’s also a delicate process after watching the team’s depth erode on the way to a loss in the divisional round. That means there could be some cuts to make sure they have the players needed to complete a championship run and a surprising cut at the wide receiver position.

Lions WR Tim Patrick Will Be Turning in His Playbook Next Week

There are several players that could be surprising cuts on the Lions, but it’s hard to tell which ones. Head coach Dan Campbell’s remarks about having depth means that already banged up positions such as the defensive and offensive lines could take priority of the other positions and that could mean bad news for veteran Tim Patrick.

Patrick was one of the best stories for the Lions last season after missing the past two seasons due to injury. After tearing his ACL in 2022 and his Achilles tendon in 2023, Patrick signed after training camp and appeared in 16 games, catching 33 passes, 394 yards, and three touchdowns. The 31-year-old enjoyed his experience so much that he campaigned for the Lions to bring him back, and he’s currently pegged as a starting receiver alongside Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams.

Cutting a starter doesn’t seem like a great idea – especially with the frequency that Detroit uses three receivers on the field. But that also didn’t account for Isaac TeSlaa flipping the depth chart. Considered a project out of Arkansas, TeSlaa has impressed throughout training camp thanks to his athleticism and willingness to block. For a team that’s as physical as the Lions, having an extra blocker on the field can’t be seen as a bad thing, and it could help TeSlaa get more playing time than expected.

But TeSlaa isn’t the only wideout standing out during camp. Dominic Lovett and Jackson Meeks have both stood out during the preseason, giving the Lions something to think about as they craft their final 53-man roster.

Keeping Patrick around may be the right move for a team that believes it can win a Super Bowl. But if Campbell likes his young receivers, Patrick or fellow veteran Kalif Raymond could be the name on the chopping block. Either way, the receiver position could come down to the wire and have a surprising decision ahead of the roster deadline.

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