Evaluating the Lions' roster cuts: Offense

The Detroit Lions released 22 players on Saturday to get their roster down to the 53-man limit. Here's a look at the 12 offensive players who were let go:

RB Mikel Leshoure - It's a shame that Leshoure's time in Detroit has come to an end, but this was an obvious decision. He just isn't as effective as he was before his Achilles injury, and he wasn't even the Lions' fourth-best running back during the preseason. Hopefully he will get a shot with another team at some point, but the Lions were correct to move on when they did.

RB George Winn - Had the Lions kept four running backs, chances are Winn would have made the team over Leshoure. Winn not only looked better in the preseason at running back, but he did more on special teams as well. The expectation is that Winn will end up on the Lions' practice squad if he clears waivers, so his time in Detroit probably hasn't come to an end just yet.

FB Emil Igwenagu - Considering he only joined the Lions this week, it's no surprise that Igwenagu was released. He's another candidate for the practice squad, and perhaps with more time he will eventually convince the Lions to put him on their 53-man roster.

WR Kris Durham - Despite starting throughout the preseason, Durham was the odd man out at wide receiver. The Lions chose potential and upside by keeping Corey Fuller over him, and I really can't argue with that move. Durham would have added nice depth at the bottom of the depth chart, but Fuller has a much higher ceiling at this point.

WR Andrew Peacock - Peacock was really just a camp body at wide receiver, but he has seemingly shown enough to get an invite to join the practice squad.

WR Patrick Edwards - Edwards was never really in the mix for a roster spot this year, which says a lot about how far the Lions' wide receiver corps has come since last year, when he actually made the team. This year, it was clear for a while that he was going to be a part of the final cuts.

TE Jordan Thompson - Like Peacock, Thompson was simply a camp body, but he may have done enough to end up on the Lions' practice squad.

TE Michael Egnew - If Thompson doesn't make the practice squad, perhaps Egnew will end up on there. He was claimed at the same time as Igwenagu, so it's not like he had much of a chance to impress the coaches, but he could get a longer look by going on the practice squad.

OT Michael Williams - Of all the players on this list, Williams might be the one who was most deserving of a spot on the 53-man roster. He only switched from tight end to offensive tackle in May, but he was outstanding in the preseason. He's a lock for the practice squad if he clears waivers, and there's a very good chance he will take over Corey Hilliard's spot on the team a year from now.

OG Garrett Reynolds - Reynolds had a decent preseason, but with the Lions opting to keep only one backup at offensive guard and center, there wasn't room for him on the roster.

OG Rodney Austin - Austin was in a similar situation, although he did not have a very good preseason. He still has a good chance of sticking around on the practice squad, but he really played himself off the team these last few weeks.

OG Darren Keyton - Keyton is another solid option for the practice squad. With only four interior linemen on the roster, there's a need for some added depth via the practice squad, and Keyton's ability to play both guard and center makes him an attractive option.