Lions bring back familiar face, claiming LB Nowaske to fill roster spot No. 53; no Lions' cuts claimed

Allen Park — The Detroit Lions filled the vacancy on the team’s initial 53-man roster by claiming linebacker Trevor Nowaske off waivers from the Arizona Cardinals.

Signed as an undrafted rookie out of Saginaw Valley State in 2023, Nowaske spent much of his rookie season on Detroit’s practice squad, prior to being waived and claimed by the Cardinals in late December.

He didn’t appear in a game for the Cardinals last season, but saw more than 70 defensive snaps in the team’s three preseason contests last year. Nowaske did see action in two contests for the Lions, playing exclusively on special teams during those matchups.

"I love talking about him because I feel like he’s been a great football player since training camp and has just done a great job," Lions special teams coordinator Dave Fipp said last year. "I was excited to see him be able to get out there because a guy like him, he’s doing all this work in practice, he’s giving the looks to the (starters) every single week, all he wants is a chance to play and finally got a chance to play. I thought did a nice job for us.”

Nowaske adds to a deep linebacker room loaded with special teams contributors, headlined by All-Pro and Pro Bowler Jalen Reeves-Maybin, as well as Malcolm Rodriguez and Ben Niemann.

Across the NFL, 26 players were claimed following Tuesday’s roster purge, where the league’s 32 teams trimmed their roster from 90 to the mandatory 53.

None of the 22 players waived by the Lions were claimed. That group included tight James Mitchell, a former fifth-round draft pick, cornerback Steven Gilmore, who was on Detroit’s roster in 2023, and undrafted rookies Kingsley Eguakun and Isaac Ukwu, who caught the eye of the coaching staff with their potential during this year’s training camp.