Jarrad Davis’ second stint with the Lions didn’t last as long as his first. The Lions are releasing the former first-round pick, according to NFL Media, as each NFL team continues the process of trimming their rosters from 80 to 53 players by Tuesday’s deadline at 4 p.m. ET.
Davis re-signed with the Lions in March after spending one season with the New York Jets. The 21st overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Davis spent his first four seasons in Detroit before the Lions allowed him to test the open market this past offseason. His best season came in 2018, when he recorded 100 tackles, six sacks and a forced fumble in 16 games. The Lions declined to pick their fifth-year option ahead of the 2020 season after recording 63 tackles, two sacks and three forced fumbles in 11 games during the 2019 campaign.
Davis went from a full-time starter to just four starts in 2020, his final season in Detroit. He made five starts in nine games for the Jets last season while missing time due to injury.
Davis isn’t the only notable Lions player who didn’t make the 53-man roster. The team also plans to release “Hard Knocks” star Kalil Pimpleton, an undrafted rookie receiver who is the reigning Mid-American Conference Special Teams Player of the Year. Pimpleton was a first-team All-MAC selection from Central Michigan as a punt returner and receiver last season.
