The Detroit Lions released 12 players Monday and assigned four others to injury lists to comply with the NFL's first preseason roster deadline. Teams were required to trim rosters from 90 to a maximum of 75 players by Monday afternoon, and will be required to set their final 53-man roster by 9 p.m. Friday.
The list of released players consisted of players from seven position groups. The WR corps was the hardest hit, losing three players. Seven offensive players were released, four on defense and one from special teams.
CB Chris Greenwood (abdominal surgery) and RB Jahvid Best (concussion) were placed on the reserve/PUP list. G Bill Nagy (ankle) and T Jonathan Scott (knee) were placed on injured reserve, ending their season.
Notable cuts: There weren't any major surprises among the cuts Monday, but they did clarify the emphasis for offense and special teams. FB James Bryant (rookie, Louisville) was the first fullback on the roster since the team released Jerome Felton before the 2011 season. His release indicates that Lions coaches trust the TEs to repeat their solid 2011 pass protection.
The decision to release WR Dominique Curry (second year, California, Pa.) isn't as surprising as it is interesting. Curry had taken first-team special teams reps during camp, but his stock fell thanks to improved play from WR Nate Hughes and the signing of WR Kassim Osgood. Curry was also a part of the Lions' special teams' unit that had a dismal performance against the Ravens in Detroit's second preseason game. Releasing Curry makes sense, but it would be interesting to find out whether improved depth or the poor play of his coverage unit in Baltimore was the key to his departure.
Complete Cut List
FB James Bryant (rookie, undrafted, Louisville), WR Dominique Curry (second year, undrafted in 2010, California, Pa.), WR Jarett Dilard (third year, fifth round in 2009, Rice), K Derek Dimke (rookie, undrafted, Illinois), RB Stephfon Green (rookie, undrafted, Penn State), S Sean Jones (ninth year, second round in 2004, Georgia), S Isaac Madison (rookie, undrafted, Arkansas), G Jacques McClendon (second year, fourth round in 2010, Tennessee), LB Slade Norris (third year, fourth round in 2009, Oregon State), G J.C. Oram (rookie, undrafted, Weber State), DT Bobby Skinner (rookie, undrafted, Montclair State), WR Terrence Toliver (rookie, undrafted, LSU).
Follow Lions reporter John Kreger on Twitter at @CBSSportsNFLDET and @JohnKreger.