The Daily DLP from the Detroit Lions Podcast dives deep into the team’s initial 14-man practice squad signings on Monday.

Before getting into the players who constitute the Lions practice squad, host Jeff Risdon reviewed some of the more intriguing, surprising moves to get to the 53-man roster. Wide receiver Greg Dortch getting cut and now moving onto the Buffalo Bills remains a head-scratcher from a football standpoint. The Lions don’t have anyone else who can do what Dortch offered as a receiver and a return man.

Tyler Conklin not making the team also gets covered, with the knowledge that Jackson Meeks offers a different element than the veteran. It’s a pragmatic choice by the Lions, and also rewards Meeks for his outstanding special teams contributions all summer. Those special teams are where RB Jabari Small likely made the team as well.

The practice squad has 14 players who were cut by Detroit on Sunday. Two spots remain open. One of them might be for UDFA LB Erick Hunter. While Hunter isn’t on the list, it does not necessarily mean that the Lions haven’t tried to get him back. Hunter might be weighing other opportunities with different teams that offer a more immediate path to playing time than what he has in Detroit.

Two 2025 draftees, Dominic Lovett and Dan Jackson, are also not on the list. It’s a disappointing lack of progress for the two Georgia Bulldogs, taken late in the ‘25 draft. While frustrating, missing on late Day 3 picks is not cause for alarm or shame for GM Brad Holmes.

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