A mid-camp addition to address a depleted depth chart, Whiteside is coming off a season in the UFL, where the Auburn Hills Avondale and Saginaw Valley State product worked himself back onto NFL radars.
The Lions know that injuries will happen, and it will sometimes be a role player who has specific skills. Like in the playoffs, where they lost Ilafonwu as the spy in the first series. This is a big db. Can he plug a hole? Hope so. Thanks for the report!
On roster projection 1.0, you had both Rakestraw and Hallett making the 53, Whiteside on the outside looking in. Given the uncertainty of Rake, potential PUP candidate, and how glowingly you have written about Whiteside, do you have Whiteside jumping Hallett? Or making it with a roster move related to Rake? Still with work to do- outside looking in?
I think that's a pretty big leap for Whiteside. I'm not to thinking about 53-man projection adjustments quite yet, but don't anticipate going that far.
PUP is for pre-camp issues. If he is to return sometime during the season, Rakestraw must be on the 53 when they break camp. The following day, he'll go on the IR.
Rule change. Teams are allowed to place up to two players on IR, with a return designation, prior to setting the 53. Meaning Rake doesn’t have to be on the 53.
Easy to root for a guy like that. Hopefully there's a Joique Bell-like ending for him. (And wonder what Joique Bell thinks about when a new season of training camps take place)
Another great deep-cut for JR. Excellent interview and storytelling.
Great article that gives another look, like the article on Ennis Rakestraw, that gives a picture of the difficult side of pro sports, especially football. 90x32 is 2,880. Think about the number of scholarship players there are at the college level and there’s only 2,880 players in camp. It’s a tough gig.
The Lions know that injuries will happen, and it will sometimes be a role player who has specific skills. Like in the playoffs, where they lost Ilafonwu as the spy in the first series. This is a big db. Can he plug a hole? Hope so. Thanks for the report!
Cheers Justin 🍻! Sports journalism is still alive, although getting rare in the click-bait era.
Everyone can have dreams. Sometime they do come true.
Amazingly, Whiteside went to the same high school as new OC John Morton.
Sharing this one with my step son, who has aspirations of one day playing in the NFL.
Great story Justin, camp bodies are people too and they are often more interesting than the guys who know they are making the 53.
Thanks for these articles on the bubble athletes Justin. Helps remind us that these guys are real people grinding for a job.
Thank you for taking the time to write about these guys! As a UFL fan, it does mean a lot
On roster projection 1.0, you had both Rakestraw and Hallett making the 53, Whiteside on the outside looking in. Given the uncertainty of Rake, potential PUP candidate, and how glowingly you have written about Whiteside, do you have Whiteside jumping Hallett? Or making it with a roster move related to Rake? Still with work to do- outside looking in?
I think that's a pretty big leap for Whiteside. I'm not to thinking about 53-man projection adjustments quite yet, but don't anticipate going that far.
PUP is for pre-camp issues. If he is to return sometime during the season, Rakestraw must be on the 53 when they break camp. The following day, he'll go on the IR.
Rule change. Teams are allowed to place up to two players on IR, with a return designation, prior to setting the 53. Meaning Rake doesn’t have to be on the 53.
Ah thanks!
Easy to root for a guy like that. Hopefully there's a Joique Bell-like ending for him. (And wonder what Joique Bell thinks about when a new season of training camps take place)
Another great deep-cut for JR. Excellent interview and storytelling.
Great article that gives another look, like the article on Ennis Rakestraw, that gives a picture of the difficult side of pro sports, especially football. 90x32 is 2,880. Think about the number of scholarship players there are at the college level and there’s only 2,880 players in camp. It’s a tough gig.
Love these sort of articles! Excellent read!