The Detroit Lions made two roster transactions ahead of their Week 4 matchup with the Cleveland Browns, placing safety/gunner Daniel Thomas on injured reserve with a broken arm, and elevating rookie wide receiver Jackson Meeks from the practice squad for this Sunday’s game.
Thomas was signed by the Lions at cutdowns and immediately earned multiple roles on special teams, including the all-important gunner role on punt coverage. Through three games, Thomas has seen 50 snaps on special teams and just nine on defense, filling in late in Week 2 after the Lions created a sizable lead on the Bears. Thomas’ 76.6 PFF grade on special teams is fourth best on the Lions roster.
Unfortunately for Thomas, he’s had a tough start to his Lions career, with regard to injuries. After breaking his hand in Week 1, Thomas played with his hand in a cast the previous two weeks, only to break his forearm in Week 3. This break required surgery, and so a stint on injured reserve was anticipated.
Thomas will now be required to sit out the next four games while on injured reserve, but he could be out longer depending on how quickly he heals. For reference, when Alex Anzalone broke his forearm last season, he missed six weeks’ worth of games, so we could expect a similar timeline for Thomas.
Similar to last week, the Lions did not make a corresponding move to the active roster after placing a player on injured reserve, meaning they will have an open spot on their 53-man roster to start Week 5.
That being said, the Lions did elevate practice squader Jackson Meeks for this game, and it’s very possible he will fill some of Thomas’ roles on special teams, potentially including at gunner. During the preseason, Meeks saw reps at gunner each game—along with fellow rookie wide receivers Isaac TeSlaa and Dominic Lovett—and his elevation for this game is a good indicator that he’s in line for some work.
Following the game, Meeks will revert to the Lions’ practice squad, as an elevation means he is not required to pass through the waiver process.
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