Brad Holmes and the Lions entered training camp expecting either Tim Boyle or David Blough to make the 53-man roster. They had so much faith in Boyle they gave him $1.75 million guaranteed.
Now both quarterbacks are gone, with the news that Blough is reportedly signing with the Vikings practice squad after being waived by the Lions on Wednesday. Boyle was released on Tuesday.
"We had the plan in place, we felt good about it and they just didn’t quite make the jump that we expected them to make," Holmes said Thursday. "So you just have to make some tough decisions and find the best solution that you can.”
The Lions' solution was claiming veteran Nate Sudfeld off waivers from the 49ers in hopes he can stabilize the backup QB position behind Jared Goff.
“We just made it work the best way we can and we did what’s best for the organization at this time," said Holmes. "There’s a lot of different options. You can trade a bunch of draft capital for a backup quarterback, but we did the best thing for the Detroit Lions. Is there a little bit of risk? Is it foolproof? No, I have too much respect for the unknown to not say that there’s a little bit of that.
"But I think we got the plan in place where Nate will get caught up to speed and we’ll be in good shape.”
Blough had been with the Lions since 2019, throwing four touchdowns to seven interceptions in seven career games. The club wanted to bring him back on the practice squad, but Blough opted for a new opportunity in the NFC North.
Elsewhere on the roster front, undrafted rookie WR Kalil Pimpleton, a Central Michigan product who's been featured in HBO's 'Hard Knocks,' is reportedly signing with the Giants practice squad after being waived by the Lions on Tuesday.
The speedy Pimpleton showed flashes in camp and finished second on the team in the preseason in catches (9) and receiving yards (69), but never had much of a chance to make the final roster in a crowded receivers room.
The Lions did re-sign second-year running back Jermar Jefferson to the practice squad Thursday after waiving him Wednesday to make room on the roster for Sudfeld. Jefferson, the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2020, rushed 22 times for 72 yards in the preseason.
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