The Detroit Lions have announced that they have removed Steve Longa from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, re-signed running back Justin Stockton and released wide receiver Deontez Alexander.
Activating Longa is the biggest news of this press release. By removing him from the PUP list now, he will not be eligible to start the league on the list. Because the PUP list requires players to miss half the season, it’s entirely possible that the Lions are expecting Longa to be a contributor before then.
Longa, of course, still has to make this roster, but he is a special team dynamo. With Jarrad Davis’ injury likely to keep him out of action a while, Longa also provides depth at the MIKE.
“Stockton returns to Detroit after spending a portion of the preseason with the team,” the Lions said in a press release. “Originally entering the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Texas Tech in 2018, he also spent time on the Lions’ practice squad last year.”
The Lions have said nice things about Stockton’s performances in the past and this is the third time they have added him to the roster, but this move was likely made at this time for two main reasons: they’re giving him a chance to make the practice squad again, and they need bodies at the position entering Game 4 of the preseason because they plan on resting their running backs higher on the depth chart.
