The Detroit Lions made a flurry of roster moves on Tuesday afternoon, including changes to both their active 53-man roster and their practice squad. Here’s a full list of the moves:
- Signed OL Trystan Colon from practice squad to 53-man roster
- Placed TE Shane Zylstra on IR
- Cut LB Monty Rice from the practice squad
- Signed QB/WR Malik Cunningham to practice squad
- Signed TE Ross Dwelley to the practice squad
Let’s start with the most straightforward moves: placing Zylstra on injured reserve and signing Dwelley to the practice squad. Zylstra suffered an ankle injury early in Sunday game against the Chicago Bears and did not return. It’s unclear how long Zylstra will be out, but by being placed on injured reserve, he will have
to miss at least the next four games before he can even return to practice.
Dwelley joins the team as a seven-year veteran who spent most of his career with the San Francisco 49ers. He’s played in a total of 101 games, including 17 starts. Most of his contributions have come on special teams (1,263 snaps), but he has also logged a lot of time on offense, as well (1,378 snaps). Of those offensive snaps, more than half of them have been spent as a run blocker. If the Lions want a third tight end for Monday’s game against the Ravens, they could call up Dwelley or rookie Zach Horton from the practice squad.
We previously covered the signing of Cunningham, which certainly seems like a move to help the Lions prepare for Lamar Jackson this week.
Dwelley and Cunningham take the practice squad spots of Rice and Colon. Rice was only with the Lions for a single week. He was called up play against the Bears, participated in 19 snaps, but was called for a personal foul penalty after one play.
Colon is perhaps the most notable of roster moves. He takes Zylstra’s place on the roster, giving the Lions extra depth on the interior offensive line. Colon was in the mix for the backup center job in training camp, competing with Kingsley Eguakun and Michael Niese. Colon suffered an injury late in camp, giving the job to Eguakun, but now both are on the 53-man roster. It’s worth noting starting guard Christian Mahogany was fighting off an injury on Sunday. However coach Dan Campbell noted on Monday that he should be fine.
“I think he’ll be okay. Yeah, I think he’ll be alright, we’ll see,” Campbell said. “He’s another one we’re checking out.”
With the Lions playing on Monday this week, their first injury report of the week will be filed on Thursday.
