Lions cut Trey Flowers after back-to-back injury-shortened seasons

The Detroit Lions plan to release Trey Flowers ahead of free agency following back-to-back seasons that ended with the veteran defensive end on injured reserve.

According to Ian Rapoport, the Lions sought to trade Flowers but couldn't find a taker and opted to release him instead.

Flowers, 28, was a fourth-round pick of the New England Patriots in the 2015 NFL Draft and recorded 21 sacks in his last three seasons with the team, as well as another 5.5 sacks in nine playoff games. His consistent production earned him a five-year, $90 million deal with the Lions, and he finished his first season in Detroit with seven sacks.

In his second season with the Lions, Flowers suffered a fractured forearm that cost him nine games, and he missed another 10 games in 2021 due to knee and shoulder injuries. Over his last two seasons in Detroit, Flowers managed only 3.5 sacks.