Lions waive defensive lineman and open up a roster spot, might be the start of something the Lions do all year

Last week Dan Campbell was asked about the Detroit Lions having 52 players going into the their first game of the year. He seemed to like the functionality the move gave the Lions.

“I think it’s for the flexibility. It gives us flexibility to make a move if we need to, if we need to add somebody. There again, we’re going to have a pretty good idea within the next, probably, 48 hours here, 24 to 48 hours, exactly how we want to go into this game and who we want to go into the game with. So, that could have a little bearing on roster, practice squad, vet squad, that whole thing. It just gives us a little bit of room to maneuver.”

The team moved defensive lineman Chris Smith up to the 53-man roster on Saturday to fill that spot. Now on Monday he's been waived and the spot is back open again.

Smith didn't really see the field on on Sunday. He played eight snaps in total and had one tackle. He should absolutely find his way back onto the practice squad once he clears waivers.

What the upper hand this move gives the team? It allows them to elevate three practice squad guys per game instead of two and it also allows the team to not use up all three of guys practice squad elevations they're allotted per year.

The risk, of course, is that you leave a guy hanging out there to get claimed when you release him with the intentions of bringing them back to practice squad.

This is smart if the is indeed what the Lions are planning to do. The other thing they could do is use that spot for someone like Tim Patrick down the line if he proves he's got what it takes to make the roster.

Related: Brian Branch had an immediate message for Dan Campbell when he got to the Lions locker room