The Detroit Lions announced the team’s initial 53-man roster — yes, it’s 53 this year — cutting or waiving more than 30 players on Sunday.
Below is the complete roster and full list of cuts. Check back later this evening for analysis of the roster.
53-man Roster
Quarterbacks: Jared Goff, Josh Dobbs
Running backs: Jahmyr Gibbs, Isiah Pacheco, Sione Vaki, Jacob Saylors, Jabari Small
Wide receivers: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Isaac TeSlaa, Tay Martin
Tight ends: Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, Jackson Meeks
Offensive line: Penei Sewell, Blake Miller, Larry Borom, Christian Mahogany, Tate Ratledge, Ben Bartch, Juice Scruggs, Miles Frazier, Seth McLaughlin
Edge defenders: Aidan Hutchinson, DJ Wonnum, Derrick Moore, Tyler Lacy, Ahmed Hassanein, Eric O’Neill
Defensive tackles: Alim McNeill, Tyleik Williams, Skyler Gill-Howard, Levi Onwuzurike, Mekhi Wingo
Linebackers: Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes, Devin White, Malcolm Rodriguez, Trevor Nowaske, Jimmy Rolder
Cornerbacks: DJ Reed, Rock Ya-Sin, Ennis Rakestraw, Khalil Dorsey, Keith Abney II, Roger McCreary
Safeties: Chuck Clark, Christian Izien, Thomas Harper, Avonte Maddox
Specialists: Jake Bates, Jack Fox, Hogan Hatten
Injured lists
Physically unable to perform: Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph
Injured reserve/designated to return: Cade Mays
Non-Football Injury: Giovanni Manu
Cut
DL Myles Adams, LB Joe Bachie, TE Tyler Conklin, WR Greg Dortch, WR Tom Kennedy, LB Amen Ogbongbemiga, LB Troy Reeder, DL Ben Stille and RB Trayveon Williams
Waived
QB Luke Altmyer, WR Tarik Black, CB Ekow Boye-Doe, DB Aamaris Brown, OL Devin Cochran, CB Bump Cooper Jr., WR Malik Cunningham, TE Thomas Gordon, OL Gus Hartwig, TE Zach Horton, LB Erick Hunter, S Dan Jackson, WR Lucky Jackson, WR Dominic Lovett, EDGE Anthony Lucas, G Mason Miller, G Melvin Priestly, CB Eric Scott Jr., DL Chris Smith, OL Colby Sorsdal, S Jason Taylor II, DL Tyre West, CB Nick Whiteside, RB Roydell Williams
Waived/Injured
OL Michael Niese
I think Dortch has a handshake deal to return to the Lions in a day or two. It's the only way this makes sense since they did not keep a punt returner. He is a veteran and does not have to clear waivers. I think another player could be put on IR in a day or two so they can bring Dortch back.
Wingo the only one that really sticks out. He has done nothing to date. If they really like small and have concerns about Pacheco then that works. But man… this says vaki might not be RB ready.
Tough to understand why no 5th WR or Whiteside over Wingo