On eve of roster cuts, Lions’ Schwartz mum on possible moves

Schwartz mum on Lions cuts

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz isn’t talking about the cuts he has to make by Saturday night.

The franchise, along with the rest of the NFL, must trim its roster to 53 players by 6 p.m. Saturday.

“It doesn’t do a whole lot of good for us to speak as an organization before we make those moves,” Schwartz said Friday.

The biggest decisions appear to be at running back, where DeDe Dorsey and Aaron Brown, a 2009 draft pick, seem locked in a battle for a backup spot behind Jahvid Best and Kevin Smith.

Linebacker Caleb Campbell, who was drafted in 2008 but missed a season to fulfill a military commission, appears to be on the bubble to secure a spot. Linebacker Korey Bosworth, nephew of Brian Bosworth, broke his right leg during Thursday’s exhibition finale, but Schwartz did not elaborate on the player’s future with the team.

The Lions are 2-30 in the last two seasons, including a 2-14 campaign during Schwartz’s first season here, but the coach said he took it as a sign of progress that making the cut to 53 players will be more difficult the second time around.

“It’s a sign of having a more talented roster when those decisions aren’t easy,” he said. “And honestly, last year, it was pretty easy to get to 53.”

He added that he felt better that the Lions probably are more talented now than when they ended his first preseason here.

“There’ll be more interest in some of our players, maybe from other teams claiming or wanting to execute a trade,” he said. “That’s a good feeling to be in, rather than sitting here saying we’re looking at the bottom of everybody else’s roster.

The Lions, who have lost 20 straight regular season road games, open the season Sept. 12 at Chicago.