Former Lions check-in: How Detroit’s free agency losses are playing on new teams

How have former Detroit Lions from the 2023 team performed with their new team in 2024? A few will surprise you.

As the bye week comes to a close, I wanted to do one final check-in. But this time, I wanted to look across the league and see how former Detroit Lions player are doing with their new teams. In primetime already, we’ve seen former Lions receiver KhaDarel Hodge snag a game-winning touchdown in overtime and cornerback Amani Oruwariye seals a victory with an interception.

So that we’re not examining 40+ different players, this “former Lions check-in” will focus on players the Lions lost in this past offseason. In other words, here’s a look at players that were on the Lions in 2023, or this previous offseason, and are now elsewhere in 2024. I’ll also include players who spent the 2024 offseason with Detroit only to be released before the season got underway.

Note: PFF grades reflect only through Week 4. When Week 5 grades drop, those will be updated.

WR Josh Reynolds — Denver Broncos

Stats: 5 games (1 start) — 12 catches, 183 yards, 1 TD
PFF grade: 67.2 (45th out of 115 WRs)

Reynolds is second on the team in Denver’s struggling pass offense. Bo Nix is averaging just 165 passing yards per game and has four interceptions to one passing touchdown, so it’s been hard for Reynolds to find as much production as he was in Detroit. He’s doing what he can, though:

TE Zach Ertz — Washington Commanders

Stats: 5 games (5 starts) — 17 catches, 160 yards, 1 fumble
PFF grade: 62.0 (26th out of 69 TEs)

It may be a stretch to call Ertz a former Lion considering he was never active in a single game, but I was pretty surprised to find that he’s playing pretty well at the ripe age of 33 years old. Through four weeks, he was ranked 10th among tight ends with 150 receiving yards. I suppose a veteran tight end is just what a rookie quarterback like Jayden Daniels needs.

G Jonah Jackson — Los Angeles Rams

Stats: 2 games (2 starts) — 4 pressures allowed, 0 sacks allowed
PFF grade: 56.6 (55th out of 69 Gs)

Jackson dealt with an injury for most of training camp, and he only lasted a couple of games into the regular season. He fractured his scapula in Week 2 and is now on injured reserve. It sounds like he’s expected to return this season, but it might be a while.

OT Matt Nelson — Free agent

Nelson signed with the Giants this offseason, but he did not make their final roster and remains a free agent today.

EDGE Julian Okwara — Arizona Cardinals

Stats: 4 games (0 starts) — 4 tackles
PFF grade: 51.0 (Did not qualify for ranking, but would be 98th out of 111)

Okwara originally signed with the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason, but he was part of the team’s final round of cuts. He was quickly signed to the Cardinals’ practice squad and signed a 53-man contract with the team after the first week of the season.

Thus far, Okwara has played just 86 defensive snaps and 24 special teams snaps and has had a minimal impact.

DT Benito Jones — Miami Dolphins

Stats: 5 games (3 starts) — 4 tackles
PFF grade: 47.1 (99th out of 124 DTs)

Jones has never been a PFF darling (39.1 PFF grade last year in Detroit), so don’t necessarily judge his performance by that grade. Run-stuffing nose tackle is not a glamorous position, and Jones isn’t exactly racking up the stats. That said, Miami’s run defense—Jones’ specialty—is (through Week 4) allowing 119.5 yards per game (16th) and 4.2 yards per carry (11th).

LB Anthony Pittman — Free agent

Pittman was signed by the Washington Commanders but failed to make the team. He’s currently a free agent.

LB Ty Summers — New York Giants

Stats: 5 games (0 starts) — 2 tackles
PFF grade: 74.5 special teams grade (14th out of 146 special teamers)

A late addition to Lions camp, Summers made a strong impression, but not enough to stick around in Detroit. He was scooped up by the Giants and spent the first three weeks on the practice squad, but was elevated for each game. After using all three of his season elevations, the Giants signed him to the 53-man roster.

Summers hasn’t played a defensive snap, but he’s clearly a valuable four-phase special teamer to New York. He’s played at least 13 special teams snaps in each game this year.

CB Chase Lucas — San Francisco 49ers

Lucas signed early with the 49ers. He didn’t make the team’s initial 53-man roster, but he was signed back to their practice squad. He has yet to make a game appearance in San Francisco.

CB Jerry Jacobs — Free agent

Jacobs signed with the Rams back in July, but after suffering an injury in training camp, he was waived with an injury settlement. He has since worked out with a couple of teams but remains a free agent.

CB Cam Sutton — Pittsburgh Steelers

Sutton received an eight-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy stemming from an incident in Florida in which he was accused of domestic battery. He has since entered a Domestic Violence Intervention Program that will dismiss prosecution upon completion.

Sutton notably had an interception against the Lions in the preseason.

S Tracy Walker — Free agent

Walker didn’t sign with a team until joining the 49ers in August. San Francisco cut him and brought him back to the practice squad. However, after needing reinforcements at other positions, the 49ers cut him from the practice squad on September 24. He’s still a free agent.

S Will Harris — New Orleans Saints

Stats: 4 games (4 starts) — 14 tackles, 3 passes defended, 1 INT
PFF grade: 58.0 (47th out of 76 safeties)

Harris has had a nice little revitalization of his career. Now, a full-time starting safety for the first time since 2021 really, Harris has provided steady play for the Saints. His first defensive snap for the Saints went pretty well.

It’s been a relatively quiet season for him otherwise, but it’s still good to see Harris find a role in the NFL after bouncing between so many positions with Detroit.

(Note: The Saints play on Monday night)

S C.J. Gardner-Johnson — Philadelphia Eagles

Stats: 4 games (4 starts) — 21 tackles, 2 passes defended
PFF grade: 50.6 (66th out of 76 safeties)

Gardner-Johnson’s return to Philly has been underwhelming. While he did have an impressive fourth-down stop in primetime, it’s been tough sledding otherwise. According to PFF, he’s tied for the sixth-most missed tackles in the NFL (eight) and his passer rating allowed of 137.5 is 10th-worst among safeties. It’s obviously not all on Gardner-Johnson, but Philly’s defense continues to struggle, ranking 26th in DVOA.

(Note: The Eagles had a Week 5 bye)