Home / Sports / Lions' Roster Cutdown: Who Makes the 53-Man Squad?
Lions' Roster Cutdown: Who Makes the 53-Man Squad?
30 Aug
Summary
- Detroit must cut 38 players from a 91-man roster by Sunday evening.
- Players with under four credited seasons are subject to waivers.
- The Lions hold the 17th priority in the waiver wire claim order.
NFL teams, including the Detroit Lions, are gearing up for significant roster adjustments. By Sunday at 6 p.m. ET, all teams must finalize their 53-man rosters, a process that requires the Lions to release 38 players from their current 91-man offseason roster. This demanding task follows their final preseason game.
Understanding the distinction between 'waived' and 'released' players is crucial. Those with four or more credited NFL seasons are immediately free agents. Conversely, players with fewer than four credited seasons are subject to the NFL's waiver wire system, allowing other teams to claim their contracts.
The Detroit Lions are particularly impacted this year, having focused on a younger roster. As a result, 57 of their 91 players have fewer than four credited seasons and are thus eligible for waivers. Their waiver wire priority is set at 17th, determined by last year's draft order.
The waiver wire process begins immediately after cutdowns and concludes Monday at 1 p.m. ET. Teams can then claim players based on priority. If a claimed player is added to a roster, a corresponding move must be made by the end of the business day. Players not claimed become unrestricted free agents.
