The Detroit Lions continue paring down their roster to get to the 53-man limit, and for a second straight day, that includes players that they selected in a recent NFL Draft.
2016 fifth-round pick Antwione Williams is among them, according to ESPN’s Josina Anderson.
I'm told the #Lions have cut 2016 5-rounder LB Antwione Williams.
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) September 2, 2017
That one is quite a surprise since there was talk this summer that Williams might be able to work his way into a starting spot on the depleted Lions linebacker corps. Williams had 27 total tackles in 14 regular season games as a rookie last year.
Less shocking, 2017 draft pick Patrick O’Connor was let go this morning, according to Dave Birkett of the Free Press.
The Lions are waiving seventh-round pick Patrick O'Connor. Could return to practice squad.
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) September 2, 2017
Many local football fans were excited that the Lions selected the Eastern Michigan defensive end at number 250 overall in April. The selection was likely a product of three things: the Lions need depth at DE, the Eagles showed some life and made a bowl game last year, and O’Connor impressed a number of scouts when he got his chance.
After the pick was made, NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock had great things to say about O’Connor:
He showed up at the Michigan pro day where I was and he went from an undrafted player to a guy where a bunch of guys were watching.
Unfortunately, O’Connor failed to impress this pre-season. After earning a sack in the first game against Indianapolis, O’Connor got called for a couple penalties and saw dwindling playing time the rest of the way.
Detroit also released tight end Cole Wick, who last year became the first player ever from the University of the Incarnate Word to earn a spot on an NFL team.
#Lions letting TE Cole Wick go, per a source.
— Eric Edholm (@Eric_Edholm) September 2, 2017
If these players are not picked up by other teams, the Lions could consider signing any of them to their practice squad.
One other move of note this morning, the Lions have traded cornerback and special-teamer Jonathan Bademosi to the New England Patriots. Details of the trade have not yet been reported.
Liosn have traded Johnson Bademosi to the Patriots
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) September 2, 2017
Birkett went on to add that the trade clears $1.3-million in cap space for Detroit.
The moves will be coming quickly all day today. Keep coming back to Detroit Sports Nation for all the latest news.
