ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- The Detroit Lions showed enough interest in wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin to claim the former first-round pick off waivers on Monday. He never got a chance to suit up for the team.
The Lions waived Baldwin on Wednesday with a failed physical designation, just a day after coach Jim Caldwell said they were still evaluating him medically. Apparently, the Lions had enough question about his health to not even officially place him on the roster at any point.
Caldwell, speaking before Wednesday's practice, did not rule out the team looking at Baldwin again once he is deemed healthy.
"His health is paramount and the most important thing at this point in time," Caldwell said. "At some point in time, who knows what's going to happen in the future."
It has been a rough year for Baldwin, the No. 26 pick of the 2011 draft to Kansas City. The former Pitt receiver was traded from the Chiefs to San Francisco last offseason and he barely played there.
The 49ers waived him on Sunday and the Lions decided to claim him.
Baldwin has 44 catches for 607 yards and two touchdowns in his career, although he never had more than 21 receptions in a season. Last year with San Francisco, he had three catches for 28 yards.
The Lions had looked into the 6-foot-4 Baldwin to try to bolster a receiving corps behind starters Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate.