The Detroit Lions are in training camp, and they’re focused on their new roster of players, which features a mix of the old and new. As with every team in the NFL, they’ve parted ways with some players, and many of those players have found new homes. We wish those players all the best, as long as it’s not against the Lions.
One former Lions player, however, is already looking for a new gig after only his first few days with his new team. This guy is talented, so he may land a new position with another NFL team, but it’s wild to see how short his time with his new team lasted. Such is the business of the NFL. It’s not for the faint at heart.
Former Detroit Lions Player Looking for a Gig
The San Francisco 49ers made some roster cuts on Monday, July 28, and one of the players was a former Lions signing. It wasn’t really his fault, though, because the transaction had a lot to do with a starter being back from injury.
Ex-Lions wide receiver Quintez Cephus is no longer a member of the 49ers squad following only four days with the team. According to David Lombardi of The San Francisco Standard, because 49ers first-round pick Ricky Pearsall was able to come back injury, that freed the team up to let Cephus walk.
The Detroit Lions selected Cephus the fifth round of the 2020 NFL draft. He played for three seasons in Detroit before being released following a league gambling violation. Before being with the 49ers, he was on the Los Angeles Rams‘ practice squad. Now, we’ll see if he lands in the NFL again or finds success elsewhere.
Roster Moves for the Detroit Lions
On Monday morning, July 28, the Detroit Lions announced they had signed UFL star Nick Whiteside, who last played in the NFL as a member of the Washington Commanders during the 2023 season.
This past season, Whiteside was with the St. Louis Battlehawks of the UFL, and now, he’s with the Lions. His first day at training camp, he even picked off Hendon Hooker during a drill. Welcome to Detroit, Whiteside.
“Whiteside, a former Saginaw Valley State player, was added to a busy cornerback room amidst some injury issues for the Lions’ depth on defense,” Candace Pedraza of SideLion Report noted in a July 28 piece. “Amik Robertson was out for training camp on Monday, so Whiteside was given some time on the field with the second unit.”
Pedraza added, “Whiteside apparently immediately made his presence known in camp, just an hour after the signing was announced by the Lions. According to Detroit Sports Podcast, Hendon Hooker was picked off by Whiteside in the red zone during drills with the second unit on the field.”
Whiteside is adding depth to what’s already a strong cornerback class, but considering so many players in the position were out last season for injury, it’s not a luxury. Currently, healthy key cornerbacks for the Lions include Terrion Arnold, D.J. Reed and Tyson Russell, so as they say, the more, the merrier.
