The Lions could have five open roster spots by the beginning of November, here's why

The Detroit Lions were riddled with injuries during the 2024 season, and it clearly affected them when it came to the playoffs. Because the Lions added so many players to the IR, they were getting closer and closer to the 90-man limit. 

While fans are used to the 90-man roster being a thing during training camp, it doesn't actually go away during the season. You have your 53 active players, but then you have the 16 practice squad players, the injured reserve, non-football related injury guys, and suspended players. Those guys all count towards the overall team roster, even though some of them aren't on the active roster. With all these players added up, you can't go over 90. 

The Lions proposed multiple rule changes ahead of the league meetings. The big ones were getting rid of automatic first downs on defensive holding calls. That one was voted down in early April. The other was a change to playoff seeding. That will be voted on during the Spring Meetings this week. 

The Lions also quietly proposed that the NFL raise the number of players that you can have on your total roster so that when teams are dealing with a lot of injuries at the end of the season, they can still make a few moves here and there if they need to. 

In April, we asked Atlanta Falcons CEO and Competition Committee Co-Chairman Rick McKay if there was any number the Lions proposed or that is being discussed, and he said that number is 95. McKay also said that right now, the understanding is that this rule would go into effect after the trade deadline and not necessarily mean that teams would carry 95 players into camp. 

The rule was tabled at the league meetings in April, but the plan was to reconvene and continue to discuss this rule in May, so we'll find out this week if the league votes to pass this rule. 

If they do, it could have some major effects on the Lions and the rest of the league. It will allow teams to bring in some extra players at the end of the year, and it will give some players, who might not have received a shot otherwise, a chance to be on a roster during the playoffs, where they could potentially put some good tape out there. We'll see what happens.