Detroit Lions create second roster vacancy ahead of Vikings game

The Detroit Lions created a second vacant spot on the 53-man roster on Thursday, seemingly indicating that two players could return from injury.

Late on Thursday, the Detroit Lions made a roster move that may tip their intentions on who will be playing in the big Sunday night finale against the Minnesota Vikings. The Lions waived wide receiver Tom Kennedy and signed defensive back Morice Norris back to the practice squad.

On the surface, this move looks like a clear indication that Lions receiver and punt returner Kalif Raymond will return to duties this week, and that seems like a very fair conclusion. Kennedy had assumed the kick and punt returner job while Raymond was out, and Raymond has now been practicing for two weeks. So it’s almost a certainty he’ll be back for the regular season finale.

But the Lions already had an open roster spot after they released Norris from the 53-man roster earlier in the week. Raymond could have theoretically taken that roster spot, and the Lions wouldn’t have had to risk losing Kennedy to waivers by cutting him.

Enter: Alex Anzalone.

The Lions linebacker and defensive captain returned to practice this week after missing the past six games with a broken forearm. It would be a quick turnaround for Anzalone to take the field with just two practices and a walkthrough, but he was listed as a full participant in Thursday’s practice. Thursday evening, he talked to the media about some of the tough decisions they’ll have to make.

“Obviously, the doctors and the trainers, they go through what the risks are: Waiting a week, waiting two weeks, going through practice, maybe letting it spin next week or the week after that or this week,” Anzalone said. “So I think that for me personally, I think it’s like, ‘Okay, say if something did happen, would I be okay not playing in the Super Bowl?’ So I think that’s kind of the decision I have to make in my own head, and is it worth it?”

It’s quite possible the Lions don’t intend to activate Anzalone this week. They often like the flexibility an open roster spot gives them. That said, the path is now clear for him to return on Sunday, and Detroit’s defense could sure use it.