Lions waive five players, getting roster to 80

Justin Rogers
The Detroit News

The Detroit Lions announced the release of five players Sunday morning, getting the team's roster to the required 80-player limit ahead of next week's deadline.

The team waived wide receiver Travis Fulgham, guard Josh Garnett, wide receiver Chris Lacy, linebacker Christian Sam and defensive end Jonathan Wynn. 

Wiide receiver Travis Fulgham

Fulgham, Lacy and Wynn all appeared in at least one game for the Lions last season, with only Lacy playing more than 100 snaps. Fulgham, a sixth-round draft pick in 2019, spent much of his rookie season on the practice squad.

Garnett, a first-round pick out of Stanford in 2016, had been an intriguing offseason pickup, but his path to a roster spot seemingly evaporated after the Lions selected two interior offensive lineman in the first four rounds of the year's draft. 

As part of the roster cut down, the Lions held on to all seven of the team's undrafted rookie free agents, including specialists Arryn Sippos and Steve Wirtell. Safety Jalen Elliott is currently on the COVID-19 reserve list and doesn't count toward the team's roster total. 

Detroit initially included defensive back Michael Jackson in the group of players being waived, but later traded him to the New England Patriots in exchange for an undisclosed draft pick in 2022. 

More: Lions look to develop Kenny Golladay into NFL's top tier of receivers

More: Lions 'very excited' to have D'Andre Swift, eager to see him in action