The Detroit Lions waived defensive lineman Anthony Zettel and were awarded former New York Giants defensive end Romeo Okwara via waivers on Wednesday. The news was first reported by ESPN reporter Field Yates and later confirmed by the Lions organization.
While the move is fairly straight forward—replacing one defensive lineman with another—the transaction comes after the 53-man roster cutdowns and many NFL observers had assumed that Zettel’s place on the Lions roster was secured, perhaps even as a starting option opposite Ezekiel Ansah.
Instead, the Lions have decided to take their chances on the waiver wire, less than six days before their season opener against the New York Jets on “Monday Night Football.