Report: Lions waiving QB Jake Rudock; Matt Cassel wins backup job

The backup quarterback job has been settled. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, former Michigan quarterback and Detroit Lions’ fifth-round pick Jake Rudock will be cut by the team.

Rudock entered the offseason as the favorite for the backup job, but as soon as the Lions signed Matt Cassel this free agency, it was clear his job was in jeopardy.

All throughout training camp, it seemed like Rudock was slowly losing his grasp on the backup quarterback job. He threw a pretty awful pick-six in the New York Giants joint practices, and played it overly safe in the preseason.

Though he mounted a nice fourth-quarter comeback in the Lions’ dress rehearsal game against the Buccaneers, it wasn’t enough to save his job. Rudock is still technically practice squad eligible, but after winning the backup job last year, it seems the Lions may be ready to move on.

This means the backup quarterback job belongs to veteran Matt Cassel, who has worked alongside Matt Patricia back in his days with the Patriots. Of course, the Lions could always decide to add a different quarterback, perhaps one cut by another team, but for now, Cassel is the backup.