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16 hours ago
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The Detroit Lions made a ton of roster moves ahead of their Week 16 game against the Chicago Bears, with one of them being the team cutting safety Brandon Joseph loose.
A 2023 undrafted free-agent signing of Detroit, Joseph spent last year on the Lions' practice squad before making the 53-man roster out of training camp this year. He appeared in all 14 games prior to his release, playing 182 snaps on defense and another 97 on special teams.
On the morning of his release, Joseph was arrested for suspicion of operating under the influence, Dearborn Heights police told the Detroit Free Press' Dave Birkett, which was figured to be behind the Lions' decision to let Joseph go.
"Dearborn Heights police tell me Brandon Joseph, who was waived by the Lions this afternoon, was pulled over for speeding on Michigan Avenue and arrested for suspicion of operating under the influence," Birkett reported.
"They stress he was completely compliant, detained and released."
While Joseph's arrest played a role in the Lions letting him go, head coach Dan Campbell revealed that the roster crunch also contributed to the move.
"Dan Campbell said Brandon Joseph's release was 'the perfect storm' combination of roster crunch and the off-field incident. Said he felt like he had to make that move," Birkett wrote.
Prior to the win over the Bears, the Lions activated safety Ifeatu Melifonwu off the injured reserve list, which made letting Joseph go even easier. Melifonwu played 51 snaps and allowed Brian Branch to work out of the slot, which in turn allowed Amik Robertson to play on the boundary to cover for the injured Carlton Davis.
Melifonwu wasted no time making an impact, as he tallied one sack, three pressures, and he didn't allow a reception on the lone target thrown his way, according to Pro Football Focus.
The Lions will be back in action on Monday night in Week 17 when they host the San Francisco 49ers, the team that beat them in the NFC Championship Game last season.
The Niners have already been eliminated from playoff contention, while the Lions have an opportunity to lock up the No. 1 seed and NFC North with a win and a Minnesota Vikings loss to the Green Bay Packers.
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