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UPDATE: Ian Rapoport is reporting that Kennard could be traded, but he is on his way out of Detroit.
The Detroit Lions will reportedly be releasing linebacker Devon Kennard, per a report by NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo on Tuesday.
#Lions are releasing LB Devon Kennard, source says. Bit of a surprise there. Team captain coming off back-to-back seven-sack seasons. Should have interest elsewhere.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 17, 2020
Kennard was signed by the Lions in 2018 after playing the first four years of his NFL career with the New York Giants. He was widely regarded as the team’s biggest signing that season when they inked him to a three-year deal worth $17.5 million.
The linebacker totaled seven sacks in each of his two years with the Lions. He also notched 104 combined tackles over that time. He played in 31 games, only missing one in 2018.
The move will free up $5.425 million for the Lions this offseason, and will cost them just $1.75 million in dead cap space. It comes a day after the reported signing of former New England Patriots linebacker Jamie Collins Sr.
Garafolo also reported that the team plans to release backup quarterback Kyle Sloter. Sloter never featured for the Lions, and the move comes in the wake of the reported signing of former Chicago Bears quarterback Chase Daniel.
#Lions also releasing QB Kyle Sloter after agreeing to a deal with Chase Daniel.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 17, 2020