Jason Cabinda, a veteran fullback, has rejoined the Detroit Lions, just days after being released.
Cabinda was added to the practice squad by the Lions on January 2 after being released and passed waivers. Cabinda had recently returned from an injured reserve term, and his release opened up a position on the active roster for a returning defensive player.
Cabinda, who is no longer on the active roster, might still play in the team’s season finale against the Minnesota Vikings.
Dan Campbell Has Fullback Plans
Cabinda, 27, is one of the offense’s longest-tenured players, having joined the Lions in 2019 after spending his debut year with the Oakland Raiders. with his five seasons with Detroit, he has appeared in 45 games, including three this season.
Despite the fact that Cabinda is no longer on the 53-man roster, Lions head coach Dan Campbell intimated that he would be activated for the season finale against the division opponent.
“(I would) love to get C.J. [Gardner-Johnson] involved, [Alim McNeill] involved, Cabinda involved,” Campbell added, according to Pride of Detroit.
Cabinda took to social media earlier this week to defend the squad following a contentious call in a loss to the Dallas Cowboys. The Lions were called for unlawful touching on what would have been a game-winning 2-point convert, but lineman Taylor Decker did not declare himself eligible.
Cabinda responded to pundit Jayson Whitlock’s criticism of the Lions for sending three linemen to the referee in an attempt to conceal Decker’s reporting.
“Gotta be one of the laziest takes I’ve seen,” Cabinda remarked on X. “Anyone who really knows football and knows about plays like this knows that sending only one OL to the referee for a 2 pt conversion where the defense is stagnant and can see everything going on is like telling on yourself pre-snap.”
The Lions’ defense is improving.
Cabinda’s departure might clear the door for McNeill to rejoin the active roster. He was allowed to return to practice on Wednesday, his first day back since injuring his knee in a win against the New Orleans Saints on December 3.
Alim McNeill back at practice with quite a brace. pic.twitter.com/iqXxzaZq8o
— Justin Rogers (@Justin_Rogers) January 3, 2024
“It felt really good to be back out there,” McNeill remarked following practice. “My energy has returned. My mood has returned. It’s fantastic.”
McNeill has been a key component of Detroit’s outstanding rushing defense, according to the team. The squad has the fifth-lowest overall running yards allowed in the NFL, as well as the third-lowest average yards per rush.
“Yeah, it’ll be fine.” “It’ll be great to have him back,” Dan Campbell told reporters after the game on Wednesday. “And I know he’s looking forward to it as much as we are, so he’s excited, and he’ll get some work here for us again.” This time of year, for him, it’ll always feel like Game 1 all over again. He’ll be fresh, with new legs. “It felt really good to be back out there,” McNeill remarked following practice.
