The Detroit Lions are in the leading spot in the NFC North with a 5-2 mark. Aside from losing to the Seattle Seahawks and Baltimore Ravens, the team showcased a promising performance and even stunned the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs in week 1 of the 2023 NFL season.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Rams are sitting behind the San Francisco 49ers and Seahawks in the NFC West. With a 3–4 mark till now, they are struggling to find a rhythm this season. Following the rigorous competition in week eight, both the Lions and Rams made roster changes to strengthen their offense and defense as they geared up for a potential playoff run.
Lions dismiss Marvin Jones Jr to announce 2 additional roster moves
In an Instagram post on Tuesday afternoon, esteemed Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. eloquently conveyed his emotional decision to temporarily withdraw from the National Football League in order to deal with personal matters. The announcement was made following his inability to accompany the team on their journey to compete in the NFL week 7 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.
The Lions team also didn’t hold the wide receiver (WR) and released him shortly after the announcement. In addition to Jones’ departure, the team announced that running back Mohamed Ibrahim would be placed on the practice squad’s injured reserve. He reverted to the practice squad on Monday after sustaining a dislocated hip while attempting a kick return during Sunday’s 38-6 loss to the Ravens.
#Lions announce roster moves:
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) October 24, 2023
Released WR Marvin Jones Jr.
Placed RB Mohamed Ibrahim on Practice Squad/Injured
Signed RB Jermar Jefferson to the Practice Squad
Meanwhile, the Lions have signed a familiar running back, Jermar Jefferson, to the practice squad to fill Ibrahim’s void. He was a 7th-round pick by the franchise in the 2021 NFL Draft and spent the entire 2022 season on their practice squad before being waived in August of this year due to an injury.
Rams release vet K Brett Maher after three failed kicks
The Rams have just witnessed a heartbreaking 7-point loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in week 7. In the 17-24 loss, kicker Brett Maher missed three significant kicks, and the team didn’t shy away from kicking him out of the squad following the disappointing performance.
𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: #Rams cut Kicker Brett Maher after he missed two FGs against the #Steelers on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/SEX4merzDo
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 24, 2023
Following the Week 7 loss against the Steelers, the 30-year-old kicker expressed dissatisfaction with his performance. He missed a 53-yard field-goal attempt, a 51-yarder, and even an extra point, admitting that he had failed to do his part. Even the team’s head coach, Sean McVay, seemed frustrated with the kicker’s poor performance and did not display commitment towards him in the post-match interview.
“We’ll look at it, and we’ll see. He’s got to be better. That’s seven points that we missed out on that were key and critical for the momentum of the game and the type of game that it was,” he said Via ESPN.
The Rams signed the footballer last offseason to replace their former veteran Matt Gay. After bidding adieu to Maher, the franchise signed Lucas Havrisik off the Cleveland Browns practice squad.
What’s your take on the Rams and Lions’ roster moves? Tell us in the comments.
