The Detroit Lions’ first surprising roster move of cutdown week has surfaced, and it involves safety Ian Kennelly. I, and many others, predicted that Kennelly would find his way onto the Lions’ initial 53-man roster, but that will not be the case.
According to Aaron Wilson, the Lions are releasing Kennelly, despite his strong case to make the 53-man roster. I actually had him penciled in as one of the final safeties to make the cut, but Detroit clearly had other plans.
Kennelly, who played locally at Grand Valley State, quickly earned attention after his standout performance at the Lions’ local pro day. That showing led to a roster spot, and he certainly made the most of his preseason opportunities.
The rookie safety was all over the field in August, racking up 12 tackles on defense and another two on special teams. The Lions gave him plenty of snaps, which shows how much they wanted to evaluate him in live action.
Even though Kennelly didn’t land on the 53-man roster, don’t be surprised if he’s back in Detroit soon. He feels like a lock for the practice squad if he clears waivers, and his athleticism makes him a developmental player worth keeping around.
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