Detroit Lions set 53-man roster (with 52 players): Here's who made the 2024 team

The Detroit Lions set their initial 53-man NFL roster Tuesday and only kept 52 players to start the 2024 season.

The Lions placed defensive tackle Brodric Martin and cornerback Emmanuel Moseley on injured reserve at Tuesday's 4 p.m. roster deadline, released 13 players, waived another 23 (including one injured) and kept offensive lineman Christian Mahogany on the non-football injury list.

That leaves the Lions with one open roster spot heading into Wednesday's claiming period, when the Lions will be near the bottom of the waiver wire pecking order but are free to sign any veterans with four or more years experience.

For now, the Lions have just four receivers on their roster, a position where most NFL teams keep five or six. It makes sense they would add to the position in the coming days, and they are expected to sign injury prone former Denver Broncos receiver Tim Patrick to their practice squad.

Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Kalif Raymond are the Lions' top three receivers, and undrafted rookie Isaiah Williams made the team as the No. 4. The Lions lack size at the position, and do not have a receiver likely to contribute on their coverage teams.

The Lions kept only two quarterbacks, with Hendon Hooker ticketed for backup duty behind Jared Goff. They released Nate Sudfeld, waived Jake Fromm and kept Parker Hesse over James Mitchell as their No. 3 tight end.

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Among the 26 defensive players on the Lions roster, they have nine defensive lineman, six linebackers and 11 defensive backs. John Cominsky remains on the active roster for now, though he could go on injured reserve to open up a second roster spot.

NFL teams can place two players on IR on cut-down day that can return in-season. They can designate six other players to return from IR during the year.

Among the mild surprises cut Tuesday, the Lions waived undrafted rookie pass rusher Isaac Ukwu, who had three sacks in as many preseason games, and cut defensive tackle Kyle Peko and safety C.J. Moore, one of their top special-teams players.

The Lions kept undrafted rookie safety Loren Strickland and second-year safety Brandon Joseph as backup defensive backs, and guard Michael Niese as a 10th lineman.

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Detroit Lions 53-man roster, by position, with 1 open spot:

*Indicates rookie

Quarterback (2): Jared Goff, Hendon Hooker.

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Running back (4): Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, *Sione Vaki, Craig Reynolds.

Receiver (4): Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Kalif Raymond, *Isaiah Williams.

Tight end (3): Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, Parker Hesse.

Offensive line (10): Penei Sewell, Kevin Zeitler, Frank Ragnow, Graham Glasgow, Taylor Decker, Dan Skipper, Colby Sorsdal, *Gio Manu, Kayode Awosika, Michael Niese.

Defensive line (9): Aidan Hutchinson, D.J. Reader, Alim McNeil, Marcus Davenport, Levi Onwuzurike, Josh Paschal, *Mekhi Wingo, James Houston, John Cominsky.

Linebacker (6): Jack Campbell, Alex Anzalone, Derrick Barnes, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Malcolm Rodriguez, Ben Niemann.

Defensive backs (11): Carlton Davis, *Terrion Arnold, Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph, Amik Robertson, *Ennis Rakestraw, Khalil Dorsey, Kindle Vildor, Ifeatu Melifonwu, Brandon Joseph, *Loren Strickland.

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Special teams (3): Jack Fox (P), Jake Bates (K), Hogan Hatten (LS).

Injured reserve (2): Brodric Martin, Emmanuel Moseley.

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on X and Instagram at @davebirkett.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions set initial 53-man NFL roster, have one open spot