Detroit Lions Make Several Roster Moves Ahead Of Week 1 Vs. Saints

The Detroit Lions have made a few more roster maneuvers to get the roster ready for their Week 1 matchup with the New Orleans Saints. Detroit started the week with two vacancies on their 53-man roster. Now they’ll still have one.

Detroit announced that:

• Linebacker Joe Bachie has signed from the practice squad to the 53-man roster
• C Seth McLaughlin has signed to the practice squad
• RB Jabari Small has signed to the practice squad
• G Mason Miller has been placed on the practice squad injured reserve list

Starting with Bachie, he takes up a spot on the 53-man roster now, giving Detroit an extra body amongst a crowded linebacker room. But with rookie Jimmy Rolder missing most of training camp and not officially back yet, Detroit likely needed someone who can provide depth on gameday and play special teams. Bachie is a six-year veteran with seven career starts and over 1,100 special teams snaps.

McLaughlin and Small’s return to the practice squad was expected. Both players made the team’s initial 53-man roster, but were waived later in the week in order to do some roster maneuvering. It would not be surprising to see McLaughlin get a Week 1 practice squad elevation considering Detroit currently doesn’t have a healthy backup center behind Juice Scruggs. Small could also provide some gameday depth, but it sounds like the Lions already have other RB2 plans with Isiah Pacheco starting the season on injured reserve.

Speaking of IR, it’s a disappointment to see Miller land on the practice squad IR. He was a great story on the final week of training camp, because he had to be the team’s emergency center during the final preseason game and played quite well despite no experience at the position. Unfortunately, he’ll be sidelined for at least four games. Like on the active roster IR, Miller will not count against the team’s practice squad 16-player maximum capacity.

Detroit still has an empty spot on the 53-man roster. Smart money is on wide receiver Tom Kennedy to assume that spot, but the Lions may be waiting until next week to do so, because his contract would become fully guaranteed if he were on the Week 1 roster. Regardless, Kennedy is likely to be a part of Sunday’s roster, as he’s the leading candidate to be the team’s starting punt returner and fourth or fifth wide receiver.