The Detroit Lions made the signing of former UFL kicker Jake Bates official on Tuesday, and with it came a corresponding move. The Lions announced that rookie kicker James Turner has been waived.
It’s not a surprise that the Lions are opting to only carry two kickers going into training camp, but their decision between cutting Turner or veteran Michael Badgley could have really gone either way. Badgley has been with the team for the past two seasons, and he made a couple of big kicks last year, including a key 54-yard field goal against the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.