Report: Detroit Lions cutting DT Kevin Strong, WR Victor Bolden, Dee Virgin, TE Matt Sokol

The Detroit Lions have made their first somewhat surprising roster cut for the 2020 season. According to the Detroit News, defensive tackle Kevin Strong is being waived by the team.

Strong made the Lions’ 53-man roster last season as an undrafted rookie out of University of Texas at San Antonio. Strong made eight game appearances in 2019, earning five tackles and a pass defended along the way.

After John Atkins opted out of the season and Jashon Cornell suffered a season-ending injury, it looked like Strong’s chances to make the roster were improved. However, the Lions did recently bring in several defensive lineman that may have fit more what the Lions are looking for in guys like Kevin Wilkins, Will Clarke and Albert Huggins, who the team claimed off waivers earlier this week.

According to the Detroit Free Press, the Lions notified Strong that they would like to bring him back on the practice squad should he clear waivers.

In addition to Strong, the Lions are also waiving Victor Bolden and Dee Virgin, according to ESPN’s Mike Rothstein. Bolden was stuck below a deep Lions wide receiving corps. Virgin, on the other hand, appeared to be headed for a big special teams role again after logging 360 snaps on special teams last year. However, with the addition of Tony McRae this season, who has previous experience with new special teams coordinator Brayden Coombs, Virgin may have been a little redundant on this year’s roster.

UPDATE: Per Rothstein, the Lions also have waived tight end Matt Sokol. With injuries to Isaac Nauta and Hunter Bryant early in camp, Sokol showed plenty of promise for a rookie. Unfortunately for him, it wasn’t good enough. However, this could be good news for Nauta, who made a couple big plays during Wednesday’s scrimmage.

We’re tracking all of the Lions’ roster moves right here with our 2020 roster cuts tracker. Currently the Lions are at 73 players.