Injuries have claimed another spot on the Detroit Lions roster, and the team went out and filled it with a player who can help cover injury issues at a different spot.
First, the bad news. Undrafted rookie linebacker DaRon Gilbert, a Detroit native, has been waived with injury designation. Gilbert was injured in the preseason loss to the Giants and has not practiced since Saturday’s game.
Gilbert had shown real potential as he continued his transformation from college safety at Lafayette to linebacker at Northern Illinois and then the Lions. The Detroit Brother Rice alum was a very good candidate for the team’s practice squad in 2024.
Replacing Gilbert on the roster is veteran cornerback Essang Bassey. A 26-year-old who played collegiately at Wake Forest, Bassey has spent time with the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers since entering the NFL in 2020. He’s actually had multiple stints with each team, starting one game for both in 2023. The 5-foot-10 Bassey has primarily played as a slot corner and has considerable special teams coverage experience.
