Lions cut former CFL Most Outstanding Defensive player

The Detroit Lions cuts are currently under way and they're coming fast. You can keep track of all the cuts that have been made by following along with our cut tracker.

The Lions made a cut that many Lions fans were hoping they wouldn't make when this player signed with the team back in early February. The team is parting ways with former CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player award winner Mathieu Betts.

Betts came in with a lot of fan fare and there was hope that he would transition nicely into the NFL game, but that has just not happened. Like many before Betts, he found out just how hard that CFL to NFL move can be.

The Lions tried some different things with Betts. The big one was trying to get him to be the team's new SAM linebacker. he was unable to grasp that position and the team took it off his plate. He wound up playing in every preseason game and despite a sack in the second game, he struggled to capitalize on the playing time.

Betts' time with the Lions may not be fully over though. If he clears waivers there is good shot that he'll make the team's practice squad ahead of the season. Dan Campbell and company seemed to like him and his ability and maybe a year in the system could net him a spot next season.