The Lions signed two free agent kickers this offseason, and neither made the team. Nor did any kicker at all.
After releasing veterans Randy Bullock and Zane Gonzalez ahead of Tuesday's deadline to trim their roster to 53 players, the Lions have ... 53 players and zero kickers.
Bullock, 31, signed a one-year, $1.75 million deal with the Lions in March to replace mainstay Matt Prater, who signed with the Cardinals. When Bullock struggled in camp, Detroit signed the 26-year-old Gonzalez to a one-year, $990,000 deal. He wasn't much better.
Now they're both gone.
Asked Tuesday on the Tiki and Tierney Show who's kicking for the Lions when they open the season in two weeks, Campbell joked, "Well, we’re gonna go for two a lot, and go for it on fourth. No, we’ve got our eyes on a couple of guys, and until we know exactly what we're going to do I’m just going to reserve that right now."
Look, the Lions will find a kicker. There should be plenty to pick from on the waiver wire in the days ahead. It's just an interesting strategy for a first-time GM and a first-time head coach to go without one in their original 53, and not a great reflection of the kickers they brought in.
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Brad Holmes and the Lions also released cornerbacks Corn Elder and Nickell Robey-Coleman Tuesday, two more free agents they signed this offseason. But neither move will cost Detroit cap space.
Other notable cuts for the Lions on Tuesday included veteran WR Geronimo Allison, DT Bruce Hector and RB Craig Reynolds, the latter two of whom impressed in training camp and the preseason and are strong candidates for the practice squad.
Their 53-man roster, as of Tuesday evening, features three quarterbacks, five running backs, six wide receivers, two tight ends, eight offensive linemen, seven defensive linemen, 10 linebackers, 10 defensive backs and two specialists.
With at least one more cut coming to make room for a kicker.