The Detroit Lions’ 2017 roster continues to take shape. Following this week’s trade of OT Laken Tomlinson to San Francisco, the team took one step closer to their final makeup with the waiving of a former third-round draft selection on Friday.
Lions beat writer Dave Birkett reported that following their pre-season finale loss to the Buffalo Bills, the team has decided to waive S Alex Carter.
The Lions have waived S Alex Carter, former third-round pick
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) September 1, 2017
Carter was drafted by Detroit in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft, and was originally a cornerback. However, during this offseason, he was approached by Detroit’s coaching staff and asked to switch positions to safety, which he accepted. He immediately began getting in reps at the new position during OTA’s.
“That’s a move that we made early on to give him an opportunity to line up at that position,” head coach Jim Caldwell explained. “We’ll see in the long run, but we just think that he has the bulk, the size and those kinds of things that are conducive to playing that spot. I think he’s adapting and learning it.”
Carter felt confident in his ability to excel at the position.
“I do (enjoy it),” he said. “I feel like I could be pretty good at it.”
Unfortunately for him, it wasn’t meant to be. He spent most of the pre-season with the third team defense, and with Glover Quin, Tavon Wilson, Miles Killebrew, Charles Washington, Don Carey and Rolan Milligan on the team, Carter seemed a longshot to make the team.
The deadline for NFL teams to get down to the final 53-man roster is Saturday at 4 p.m.
