Austin

Bryant

Bryant was released to make room for Nick Bosa. The highest-paid defensive player in NFL history was technically on the reserve/did not report list while holding out. Now back with the team, he needed a space on the 53-man roster. Bryant could land with the 49ers’ practice squad. It’s also possible another team takes a shot on him.

A former fourth-round pick, Bryant spent 2022 as a backup despite showing some impressive pass-rush chops in the previous year. In 2021, he notched 4.5 sacks across 14 games, five of which were starts. The Lions’ efforts to retool their defense knocked Bryant down a peg on their depth chart, resulting in his reduced role. He will likely take on a rotational role for the 49ers.

Bryant, who opened last year on reserve/PUP, has appeared in just 10 games the last two seasons. The Lions also placed WR Javon McKinley on active/NFI and OL Evan Heim on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

He’ll officially miss the first six games of 2020. Detroit selected Austin Bryant in with the 117th overall pick in the 2019 draft. Bryant missed most of his first season with a pectoral injury, appearing in just four games. He recorded a QB hit and eight tackles in that stretch.

Detroit selected Austin Bryant in with the 117th overall pick in the 2019 draft. Bryant missed most of his first season with a pectoral injury, appearing in just four games. He recorded 1 QB hit and eight tackles.

The Lions re-signed TE Logan Thomas in the corresponding roster move. Selected 117th overall in April’s draft, Bryant has been slow to recover from an unspecified upper-body injury. It’s fair to assume that this is related to the torn pectoral muscle he suffered during his senior year at Clemson. Depending on his progress, he could be designated to return at some point.

The rookie’s injury wasn’t specified. DT John Atkins, DT P.J. Johnson and OT Ryan Pope will join him on the NFI list while WR Chris Lacy will open camp on Active/PUP. A national champion during his time at Clemson, Bryant earned third-team All-ACC recognition as a senior in 2018.

The Lions have all but two of their draft picks under contract. Injuries limited Bryant’s participation in pre-draft workouts, but his Clemson tape reveals an aggressive up-field rusher whose motor runs hot and can win with elite length (34 5/8" arms) but needs to hit the weight room to improve his strength and ability to stay off the ground.

Bryant (6’4/271) made 29 starts on the Tigers’ defensive line, collecting 35 career TFLs with 20 sacks as a critical piece of the nation’s most-talented front four that also included Dexter Lawrence, Christian Wilkins, and Clelin Ferrell. Injuries limited Bryant’s participation in pre-draft workouts, but his college tape reveals an aggressive up-field rusher whose motor runs hot and can win with elite length (34 5/8" arms) but needs to hit the weight room to improve his strength and ability to stay off the ground.