Updated at 2:18 p.m., Saturday, September 1, 2007
Detroit Lions keep two, release two from Hawai'i
Advertiser Staff and News Services
ALLEN PARK, Mich. — The Detroit Lions removed running back Kevin Jones from the physically unable to perform list today, setting a day-to-day timetable for his return to the field.Two players with Hawai'i ties, defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis (Kalaheo, University of Hawai'i) and center Dominic Raiola (Saint Louis, Nebraska), are on Lions' 53-man active roster. Two others — wide receiver Cliff Russell (Campbell High) and linebacker Joe Lobendahn (Saint Louis) — were among the 21 players cut today.
Jones missed the final three games of last season and all of training camp with a broken foot. He had run for 689 yards and three touchdowns while catching 61 passes for 520 yards and two touchdowns.
Lions coach Rod Marinelli said the decision to activate Jones was made after speaking with the surgeon who operated on Jones, and with Lions owner William Clay Ford and team president Matt Millen.
Jones, who had his foot examined by his surgeon Thursday, will be in pads when the Lions practice in preparation for their Sept. 9 season opener at Oakland. Marinelli said it is unknown when Jones will play.
He will, however, be on the Lions' 53-man active roster. To get down to the roster limit, Detroit cut 21 players and placed offensive guard Frank Davis on injured reserve with a knee injury.
Among those released were: wide receivers Ron Bellamy, Kevin Kasper and Russell; running backs Aveion Cason and Anthony Sherrell; quarterback Phil Horvath; tight ends Darnell Sanders and Rudy Sylvan; offensive linemen Ben Noll, Clint Stickdorn and Barry Stokes; linebackers Donte Curry and Lobendahn; defensive linemen Claude Harriott, Justin Kurpeikis and Cleveland Pinkney; cornerbacks A.J. Davis, LaMarcus Hicks, Dee McCann and Ramzee Robinson; and punter Micah Knorr.
