Lions sign ex-Jets RB Knight to practice squad
The Detroit Lions still have only two running backs on their 53-man roster, and although that’s expected to change before next week’s season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs, the team added insurance at the position Wednesday to its practice squad.
The Lions agreed to a practice squad contract with former New York Jets running back Zonovan “Bam” Knight, his agent announced on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Knight had 300 yards rushing on 85 carries in seven games last season. He started four games after the Jets lost Breece Hall to a torn ACL, and had a career-high 90 yards in a Week 12 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
Hall returned to practice in mid-August, and the Jets also have Dalvin Cook and Michael Carter at running back.
The Lions kept David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs as the only tailbacks on their 53-man roster Tuesday, along with fullback Jason Cabinda. They cut veterans Craig Reynolds and Benny Snell, but could re-sign one or both once they make another move to clear roster space.
Along with Knight, the Lions announced the signing of nine players to their practice squad, all of whom were with the team in training camp or offseason: Wide receivers Maurice Alexander and Dylan Drummond, offensive linemen Kayode Awosika and Connor Galvin, defensive backs Brandon Joseph and Chase Lucas, linebacker Trevor Nowaske, defensive lineman Chris Smith and kicker Michael Badgley.
Offensive tackle Max Pircher also resigned with the team as an international practice squad exemption.
The Lions still have five open spots on their practice squad.
Back to a battle at kicker?
The Lions are bringing back a familiar face to compete for the kicking job.
The Lions re-signed kicker Michael Badgley to their practice squad Wednesday, a month after they cut him just before the start of training camp.
Badgley made 20 of 24 field goals and all 33 extra point attempts in 12 games with the Lions last season after joining the team in October to help stabilize a poor kicking game.
He missed time with a groin injury this spring, and the Lions released him in July to set up a training camp showdown between Riley Patterson and Parker Romo for the kicking job.
The Lions kept Patterson when they set their initial 53-man roster Tuesday, despite an inconsistent camp. Patterson made 3 of 4 field goals in preseason games, but missed a 53-yarder short off the crossbar and an extra point wide right in last week’s exhibition finale against the Carolina Panthers.
Badgley, who entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2018, had stints with the Washington Commanders and Tennessee Titans after the Lions cut him this summer. He is an 82% kicker for his career (94 of 115), but the Lions hesitated to use him from distance last season, when he made 2 of 3 attempts of 50-plus yards.
Patterson was 13 of 14 kicking for the Lions in 2021, but lost a kicking battle last summer with Austin Seibert. He spent the season with the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he made 30 of 35 field goals, including a game-winning 36-yarder as time expired in Jacksonville’s playoff win over the Los Angeles Chargers, and was traded back to the Lions in May.
Cards claim CB Thomas off waivers
The Lions hoped to bring Starling Thomas V back on their practice squad after they cut the rookie cornerback Tuesday. The Arizona Cardinals had other ideas.
The Cardinals were awarded Thomas off waivers Wednesday, the only Lions cut claimed by another team.
The Lions did not make any waiver claims.
Thomas had an impressive spring after signing with the Lions as an undrafted free agent and played mostly with the second-team defense this summer, but his play plateaued enough in training camp that the Lions exposed him to waivers as one of their final roster cuts.
Undrafted rookie cornerback Steven Gilmore, special teams ace Khalil Dorsey, do-everything veteran Will Harris and oft-injured safety Ifeatu Melifonwu made the Lions’ initial 53-man roster as back-end defensive backs.
Including Thomas, the Cardinals were awarded a league-high six players off waivers: tight end Elijah Higgins, defensive back K’Von Wallace and offensive linemen Ilm Manning, Keith Ismael and Trystan Colon.