The Lions continue to clear salary from their 2016 cap, announcing today in a press release that they’ve released veteran defensive lineman C.J. Wilson. Wilson, who was added to Detroit’s roster via waiver claim halfway through the 2015 season, helped fill in on a defensive line plagued by injuries, but his cap number was too high to keep him in the mix going forward.
[RELATED: Lions to release Stephen Tulloch]
Wilson, 28, accrued 23 tackles and two sacks in 16 games (seven starts) with the Raiders in 2014. However, he didn’t have as significant a role in 2015, and was cut by Oakland several weeks into the season, at which point the Lions grabbed him off waivers. The East Carolina alum had been set to earn a base salary of $1.8MM in 2016, along with roster and workout bonuses totaling $500K. The Lions will clear that entire $2.3MM figure from their cap by cutting him.
With Haloti Ngata and Tyrunn Walker facing free agency and Wilson no longer in the fold, the Lions will be in the market for interior defensive line reinforcements this winter, addressing the position in free agency and/or the draft.
The Lions have also removed RB Joique Bell (released) and CB Rashean Mathis (retired) from their cap this week, and will cut LB Stephen Tulloch when the new league year begins. Of course, the team could clear a significant chunk of cap room if WR Calvin Johnson officially decides to retire, though that would leave a major hole to fill on offense.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.