Detroit Lions trim roster to 80 players with 5 new cuts

On Monday evening, the Detroit Lions announced five cuts to get the team down to the necessary 80-man limit prior to Tuesday’s deadline at 4 p.m. ET.

The Lions released veteran wide receiver Darius Jennings and waived nose tackle P.J. Johnson, running back Javon Leake, outside linebacker Robert McCray, and quarterback Jordan Ta’amu.

For four of these players—Jennings, Johnson, Leake and Ta’amu—their stay with the Lions lasted less than a month. Many were added simply as depth when Detroit was going through an injury issue, and it’s tough to make an impression in that short of time. For a player like Ta’amu, he never even got a chance to take a preseason snap.

Here is what the Lions’ depth chart looks like at the appropriate positions after these cuts (courtesy of our own Erik Schlitt)

Quarterback (3)

• Jared Goff
• Tim Boyle
• David Blough
• Jordan Ta’amu

Running back (6)

• D’Andre Swift
• Jamaal Williams
• Jermar Jefferson
• Dedrick Mills
• Godwin Igwebuike
• Craig Reynolds
• Javon Leake

Wide receiver (11)

• Tyrell Williams
• Breshad Perriman
• Amon-Ra St. Brown
• Kalif Raymond
• Quintez Cephus
• Victor Bolden
• Tom Kennedy
• Damion Ratley
• Geronimo Allison
• Sage Surratt
• Javon McKinley
• Darius Jennings

EDGE Rushers (6)

• Trey Flowers
• Romeo Okwara
• Julian Okwara
• Charles Harris
• Austin Bryant
• Rashod Berry
• Robert McCray

Interior defensive line (10)

• Michael Brockers
• Nick Williams
• Alim McNeill
• Da’Shawn Hand
• Jashon Cornell
• Levi Onwuzurike
• John Penisini
• Kevin Strong
• Bruce Hector
• Miles Brown
• PJ Johnson