Michael Rothstein, ESPN Staff Writer 10y

Lions have options after waiving Baldwin

DETROIT -- Once again, the Lions have a roster spot open. The bigger question is what to do with it.

Detroit’s claiming of former first-round pick Jonathan Baldwin didn’t quite work out as the team waived the wide receiver Wednesday after he failed a physical. While the Lions didn’t rule out looking at him again once he gets healthy, it does give them some options to make an immediate move to the roster.

And Lions coach Jim Caldwell didn’t give much indication what the team plans on doing with it, only saying there are a couple of positions where the Lions need more depth.

“That’s always a big thing,” Caldwell said. “How much wear and tear a position is taking on, we have to consider those things. If it gets thin, we certainly have to bolster it to make sure we have enough guys to go in to keep us from having to maybe put a little bit more heavy lifting on one of the guys that we certainly know are going to play for us quite a bit.”

For much of the late offseason and beginning of camp, the Lions appeared focused on adding to their receiver corps, first with Reese Wiggins (now released) and then with Quintin Payton and for a day, Baldwin.

Caldwell wouldn’t say the team is still in the market for a receiver behind Calvin Johnson, Golden Tate and, theoretically, Kevin Ogletree, but the moves Detroit has made suggest that.

“We have a good nucleus of guys,” Caldwell said. “But what we do with that spot depends on our needs and we just have to make certain that we stay vigilant.”

Receiver is certainly one spot that will get a look. Among the others might be cornerback and tight end. Cornerback has been an issue when it comes to talent since the end of last season and the Lions have not made many moves there. Tight end might be the thinnest position on the roster right now, and Eric Ebron sat out Wednesday night’s practice for undisclosed reasons, leaving the team with four tight ends for at least one night.

Those might be two spots other than receiver to look at as the Lions make a decision on where they want to go to get back up to 90 players.

^ Back to Top ^