The Detroit Lions will be back at Ford Field on Sunday to face the Cleveland Browns, and they’re shaking things up with a couple of roster moves. One of those moves is giving some fans exactly what they’ve been waiting for, the NFL debut of wide receiver Jackson Meeks.

Jackson Meeks Gets His Shot

Meeks was the talk of the preseason for Detroit. Every time he was on the field in August, he made plays. Whether it was contested catches, crisp routes, or showing up on special teams, he looked like a player who had earned his way onto the 53-man roster.

But when final cuts came, the undrafted rookie didn’t make the team. Instead, the Lions stashed him on the practice squad. Now, with Sunday’s game against Cleveland looming, Meeks has been elevated and will dress for the first time in the regular season.

At the very least, he’s expected to contribute on special teams. If offensive coordinator John Morton decides to sprinkle him into the offense, fans might finally get to see if his preseason magic translates under the regular-season lights.

Safety Daniel Thomas to Injured Reserve

The flip side of this move involves bad news for the Lions’ secondary. Safety Daniel Thomas has been placed on injured reserve after undergoing surgery on his forearm earlier this week. He initially tried to gut it out and play through the injury, but surgery became the only option.

Thomas will now be sidelined for at least four games. For now, Detroit opted not to fill his open roster spot, leaving some flexibility moving forward.

Why It Matters

The Lions are heading into Week 4 with high stakes, and even small roster moves could make a difference. Meeks has been waiting for this opportunity, and sometimes that’s all it takes for a young player to carve out a role. Meanwhile, Thomas’ absence will test the depth of Detroit’s secondary, something defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard will have to account for against a tough Cleveland team.