Lions 53-man roster cuts: DT John Atkins to be waived

The Detroit Lions are continuing to shave down their defensive lineman roster. As first reported by ESPN’s Michael Rothstein, defensive tackle John Atkins will be cut.

Brought in as a reserve nose tackle in 2018, Atkins played well enough to be brought back for another go. Atkins never found his footing in camp despite many opportunities due to Damon Harrison Sr. being on the Non-Football Injury list during the first half of the preseason.

At nearly 27 years old—despite being only in his second year—and not possessing any superior attributes even for a nose tackle, there isn’t much developmental value in Atkins. Familiarity with the staff may see him brought back to the practice squad in any case, but P.J. Johnson, who was released earlier in the day, likely has a better path there.

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