2019 ScheduleAll times ET

2019 Schedule
6-10, 4th in NFC North
AP Photo/Lynne Sladky
1dMike Reiss

Roberts waived after Lions-Pats trade rescinded

Another attempt by the Patriots to shore up their tight end position ended when their trade with the Lions for Michael Roberts was rescinded due to a failed physical, a source told Adam Schefter.

Michael Rothstein ESPN Staff Writer 

The Lions have waived TE Michael Roberts after he reverted back to the franchise on Friday following a trade to New England on Thursday.

Michael Rothstein ESPN Staff Writer 

Lions training camp schedule to date (times based on what is on the team website): July 25, 9:30 am. July 26, 9:30 a.m. July 27, 9:30 a.m. July 28, 9:30 a.m. July 29: OFF July 30: 9:30 a.m. July 31: 9:30 a.m. Aug. 1: 9:30 a.m. Aug. 2: 5:30 p.m. at Ford Field Aug. 3: OFF Aug. 4: 9:30 a.m. Aug. 5: 9:30 a.m. JOINT WITH PATRIOTS Aug. 6: 9:30 a.m. JOINT WITH PATRIOTS Aug. 7: 9:30 a.m. JOINT WITH PATRIOTS Aug. 8: Lions-Patriots

Michael Rothstein ESPN Staff Writer 

The trade of Michael Roberts means the Lions only have one tight end on the roster that was here at the end of last season -- depth player Jerome Cunningham. Having T.J. Hockenson, Jesse James, Logan Thomas and Isaac Nauta as newcomers -- James and Thomas as free agent signings and Hockenson and Nauta as draft picks -- meant a complete overhaul of the position.

AP Photo/Lynne Sladky
3dMike Reiss and Michael Rothstein

Pats pick up another tight end in trade with Lions

The Patriots have acquired third-year tight end Michael Roberts from the Lions for a conditional seventh-round pick in 2020. The Patriots are thin at tight end as they transition without Rob Gronkowski.

Michael Rothstein ESPN Staff Writer 

Former Lions DC Gunther Cunningham was one of two winners of the PFWA Dr. Z award for lifetime achievement for an assistant coach in football. Cunningham spent almost his whole career as an assistant or coordinator until moving to work at Pro Football Focus in 2016. Cunningham died on May 11 at age 72. Cunningham was also the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs for two years in 1999 and 2000.

Michael Rothstein ESPN Staff Writer 

The Lions signed quarterback David Fales and offensive lineman Luke Bowanko on Monday, waiving quarterback Connor Cook and safety David Jones. Cook had been consistently working with the third team in the offseason and Jones had been rehabbing what appeared to be an undisclosed injury. Fales will likely push Tom Savage for the backup quarterback job. Bowanko has played in 46 NFL games between Jacksonville, Baltimore and Washington. He started 14 games at center for the Jaguars as a rookie in 2014. The Lions have been looking for offensive line depth and Bowanko gives them another veteran option.

Michael Rothstein ESPN Staff Writer 

A note on T.J. Hockenson: Unlike the Lions' prior first round picks Frank Ragnow, Jarrad Davis and Taylor Decker, he hasn't received a ton of first-team reps. Part of that could be due to Jesse James also needing to learn the offense. There's also that Hockenson could be learning different parts with different units. But something to consider early on, although tight end is a very difficult position to learn.

Michael Rothstein ESPN Staff Writer 

A name I wrote down a lot today — rookie WR Travis Fulgham. The sixth-round pick out of Old Dominion had at least three grabs in critical-in-practice situations, including a touchdown on a fourth-down over Teez Tabor (although whether or not Matthew Stafford would have been sacked is debatable). Fulgham joins T.J. Hockenson, Will Harris and Jahlani Tavai as picks getting some first-team run.

Michael Rothstein ESPN Staff Writer 

Matthew Stafford on knowing his beer chugging would go viral: I don't know what viral means. Not surprising since he is on no social media.

Michael Rothstein ESPN Staff Writer 

Darius Slay and Damon Harrison finish off the Lions minicamp week with their third no-show. Marvin Jones and Kenny Golladay continue to not do anything other than rehab work. For second straight day, Oday Aboushi and Joe Dahl were the first-team guards. Still wouldn't read into it but it's something to watch when July comes.

Michael Rothstein ESPN Staff Writer 

Matt Patricia said a lot of what they do right now with the offensive line this part of the year is more mental -- including the position they put them in. He said this in response to switching up the guards at Wednesday's practice -- Oday Aboushi and Joe Dahl in for Kenny Wiggins and Graham Glasgow with the first-team offense. Patricia definitely likes Dahl's versatility on the offensive line.

Michael Rothstein ESPN Staff Writer 

Matt Patricia said Jermaine Kearse can "make some pretty ridiculous catches," which was part of what intrigued them. Patricia saw Kearse first hand in Super Bowl XLIX. Also, he's familiar with Darrell Bevell and his offense from their time together in Seattle.

Michael Rothstein ESPN Staff Writer 

Chris Lacy might have had the play of the day. He caught a deep pass from Matthew Stafford over a falling Rashaan Melvin in 7-on-7 and would have scored if it were a real play. Lacy is going to be a player to watch come training camp for a depth receiver spot. Other than Kenny Golladay he's the tallest receiver on the roster at 6-foot-3. Later, he beat Teez Tabor badly in 11-on-11 for what would have been a deep touchdown. Later he had a bad drop on a deep ball where he had a step on rookie Will Harris, who has spent time with the first team at points in the spring.

Michael Rothstein ESPN Staff Writer 

Tom Kennedy, the former pro lax player trying to make the Lions, had a couple nice catches working with the third team today from Connor Cook. One was for a touchdown. That said, neither backup QB looked particularly sharp today — Cook or current No. 2 Tom Savage.

Michael Rothstein ESPN Staff Writer 

Lions owner Martha Ford was out watching minicamp today, standing on the sideline with her daughter, Sheila Ford Hamp, and team president Rod Wood.

Michael Rothstein ESPN Staff Writer 

Lions P Sam Martin has looked good this offseason — much closer to his old form that turned him into one of the league's better punters the first few years of his career.

Michael Rothstein ESPN Staff Writer 

Lions DL Da'Shawn Hand on helping rookies: "Whoever needs help, I'm here." He often takes rookies aside after practice and puts them through moves to assist them in learning.

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Team Stats

Passing Yards223.5
Rushing Yards103.8
Points For20.3
Points Against22.5