Lions’ release of a former Cardinals WR was a big surprise for four reasons originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Detroit Lions made plenty of roster moves as they trimmed their roster down to 53-players for the start of the 2026 NFL season.
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But not all of their releases made a lot of sense. Of their long list of roster moves, one stands out: the release of a former Arizona Cardinals wide receiver.
ESPN’s Eric Woodyard highlighted this roster move, the release of veteran WR Greg Dortch, as a surprising one from the Lions. There are four reasons why this release of Dortch was a surprise for the Lions.
“It was surprising to see the Lions release Greg Dortch, a veteran receiver who was entering his first season in Detroit and seemed to be a lock to make the team,” Woodyard writes.
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There are a few reasons why this is a surprise: the first of which is Dortch’s projected role on the roster, and the second is his projected role on special teams.
As Woodyard noted, Dortch was “solid” during training camp and “appeared set to contribute as the No. 4 receiver and on special teams as the punt returner.”
Cutting someone who was poised to be the team’s fourth WR and the team’s primary punt returner is not something most teams would do. But the Lions did so, and surprised Woodyard and likely some Lions fans as well in the process.
But that’s not all. It was a surprise to see Dortch go due to his connection with new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing. They were together with the Cardinals for a few seasons in Arizona, and it would’ve made sense for Petzing to lobby to keep Dortch.
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Finally, the fourth reason why the release of Dortch is such a surprise is that he was slated to take over for Kalif Raymond, who signed with the Chicago Bears this offseason, in the Lions’ offense.
While Jameson Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown are going to start, and Isaac TeSlaa is also going to factor into the WR group, Dortch seemed poised to earn the WR4 job as Raymond’s replacement offensively and on special teams.
Instead, the Lions kept Tay Martin and Tom Kennedy on the initial 53-man roster, which is a bit of a surprise considering neither is more valuable than what Dortch could provide this season.
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This roster situation is going to be one to follow closely, as the Lions might wind up making some more moves at wide receiver, and it could be bringing Dortch back. But to risk losing him in waivers or free agency is a strange decision from the Lions.
