Lions Release Randy Phillips, Sign Dante Wesley

by Sean Yuille on Sep 30, 2010 12:11 PM EDT in Detroit Lions Roster

In an unexpected move, the Lions have released safety Randy Phillips and signed defensive back Dante Wesley.

Phillips signed with the Lions during the summer as an undrafted free agent and played his way onto the team for good, earning a spot on the 53-man roster after having an impressive preseason. With Louis Delmas out for much of the preseason, Phillips got a chance to show what he's got and played very well, flying around the field and making plays.

Evidently the Lions haven't been quite as impressed with him during the regular season, because today they brought back Wesley, a defensive back who was released during the final round of roster cuts. I guess at this point they were ready for a change, and unfortunately that meant Phillips being let go. It will be interesting to see if he is kept around on the practice squad, assuming he clears waivers and wants to stay with the team.

UPDATE: According to Dave Birkett, the Lions will sign Phillips to the practice squad if he clears waivers.

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I thought he looked decent in preseason

Haven`t seen him in regular season games though. Was he even once on the field?

by Roustique on Sep 30, 2010 12:16 PM EDT reply actions

He had two tackles in each of the first two games

I didn’t realize that watching though.

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by Sean Yuille on Sep 30, 2010 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions

He got burned by DeSean Jackson for that long TD, he was in for C. C. on that play.

Ndamukong Suh - Bringing 50's football back to Motown!

by Evilsmurf on Sep 30, 2010 9:52 PM EDT up reply actions

thanks sean..... see my fan post!!!!! ....lol

you are a better writer then me anyways…… im just a radio guy i shoot from the hip when yu take time and write a nice little article…..

by perfectlions on Sep 30, 2010 12:19 PM EDT reply actions

Why why why why why why why why why why

First move that has my scratching my head.

by Doc Scratch on Sep 30, 2010 12:28 PM EDT reply actions

wow

I did not see this coming. Anyone have any info on this?

Lions fans deserve better than being the laughing stock of the NFL. Lets all hope they are heading in the right direction finally.

by joshsun on Sep 30, 2010 12:34 PM EDT reply actions

INTERESTING!

My boy musta back talked to the coaches, haha.
I kid…

Hopefully he gets signed to the practice squad.

by BtotheLT on Sep 30, 2010 1:19 PM EDT reply actions

Is Bly still out there?

Didn’t see this move coming, but not totally unexpected. The tackling in the secondary (not to mention the coverage) has been terrible. Everyone is going for the big hit and not wrapping up the ball carrier. What about putting Caleb Campbell back at his original position of Safety?

I don’t expect perfection. I expect improvement.

by Detroitfantc on Sep 30, 2010 2:01 PM EDT reply actions

My guess is he is still slightly injured and the team did not want IR him and end his season

nor did they want to use up a valuable roster spot since they are carrying so many other injured players I think they are rolling the dice on waivers and hoping he can be signed to the practice squad where he can fully heal and develop, although he hasn’t been on the injury report he just couldn’t be 100% from his lingering injury.

I thought being lazy was a bad thing, So I gave up thinking.

by Wayne Fontes on Sep 30, 2010 2:49 PM EDT reply actions

I agree Wayne, and I think he will clear waivers

Ndamukong Suh - Bringing 50's football back to Motown!

by Evilsmurf on Sep 30, 2010 9:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Hopefully he gets on the PS

I like him.

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by Hyperion Ecta on Sep 30, 2010 11:09 PM EDT reply actions

What the H E double hockysticks....

Kinda figured that Detroit would shake things up a bit w the secondary playing like it is but didn’t see it being Phillips. I guess they think that it would be easier to have a UDFA clear waivers than a 3rd round pick, i still think Phillips should have stayed and Brown should have been released.

Paymah, Macho, Jackson and Demps must not of been what they were looking for even though i think that Macho and Demps would do a better job that CC.

Can we stop talking about releasing Smitty and Hanson now....

by SmittyJ on Oct 1, 2010 3:54 PM EDT reply actions