A day after announcing their 53-man roster, the Lions are still piecing together the practice squad.
They've lost a player they would have liked to keep, kept a few others and added needed reinforcements at running back and kicker.
For starters, cornerback Starling Thomas V, a surprise cut on Tuesday after impressing throughout training camp, was claimed by the Cardinals. Detroit was ostensibly hoping to pass the undrafted rookie through waivers and add him to the practice squad, but Thomas had played too well for that to happen.
The Lions did manage to keep undrafted rookie receiver Dylan Drummond, who very nearly made the team after making a name for himself this summer; former XFL receiver Maurice Alexander, who showed potential as a return man, and cornerback Chase Lucas, a seventh-round pick of Detroit in 2022 who made a diving interception in last week's preseason finale.
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All three players were added to the practice squad Wednesday. So were two newcomers, one of whom who was actually with the Lions as recently as July: Michael Badgley. Badgley was the team's lead kicker last season and re-signed with Detroit this spring only to be released shortly before training camp. Now he's back, as insurance for Riley Patterson -- the only other kicker on the team.
The Lions also signed former Jets running back Zonovan 'Bam' Knight to their practice squad, per Knight's agent. Knight, who went undrafted last year out of NC State, rushed 85 times for 300 yards (3.5 average) and added 13 catches for 100 yards in his lone season with the Jets. He'll give the Lions insurance for David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs -- the only other running backs on the team.
Also added to Detroit's practice squad Wednesday: offensive linemen Kayode Awosika and Connor Galvin, safety Brandon Joseph, defensive lineman Chis Smith and linebacker Trevor Nowaske and
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