Da’Shawn Hand placed on IR, WR Travis Fulgham promoted to Detroit Lions active roster

It’s been a rough start for Detroit Lions 2018 fourth-round pick Da’Shawn Hand. After a promising rookie season was cut short with an injury, Hand came into 2019 with a ton of expectations and excitement surrounding him. A shoulder injury derailed the beginning to his season, and now after he finally returned from that injury, an ankle injury caused another setback. After playing just three games this season, the Detroit Lions are placing him on injured reserve, ending his season.

In a predictable move, the Detroit Lions announced that rookie receiver Travis Fulgham has been promoted from the practice squad and is now part of the team’s 53-man roster to take Hand’s place.

The move comes just after the Lions placed starting receiver Marvin Jones Jr. on injured reserve following an ankle injury suffered in the final moments of Week 14’s game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Fulgham, the team’s sixth-round draft pick this year, has yet to see his first NFL action. He spent the first month on the team’s 53-man squad, but was demoted to the practice squad, where he remained until today.

The Old Dominion product caught many scouts’ eyes after an extremely productive senior season. Fulgham pulled in 63 catches for 1,083 yards and nine touchdowns. At 6-foot-3, Fulgham is mainly an outside receiver that wins with his hands more so than his feet.

In the preseason, Fulgham caught seven catches for 147 yards, including three-for-80 in the preseason finale.

As of now, Fulgham is only the fourth active receiver on the roster. With Kenny Golladay and Danny Amendola already locked in on starting positions, Fulgham will likely compete with second-year receiver Chris Lacy for some playing time this week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Additionally, wide receiver Jonathan Duhart has been signed to the practice squad. Duhard, too, comes from Old Dominion and spent training camp with the Lions.