The Detroit Lions must cut their roster to 53 by 4 p.m. ET Saturday, Sept. 1. Here’s a final 53-man roster projection
Stafford is obvious. What happens behind him is not. It has been a pretty close – and fairly ugly – competition between Matt Cassel and Stafford’s backup last season, Jake Rudock. Neither has looked overly impressive during preseason games and both have been up and down during practice. -- although both looked better in appearances against the Bucs. But the Lions brought Cassel in for a reason and that’s to give Stafford a veteran presence as a backup.