Lions activate safety Ifeatu Melifonwu off injured reserve
The Detroit Lions have activated safety Ifeatu Melifonwu from injured reserve, putting him a step closer to making his season debut10 HOURS AGO • ASSOCIATED PRESS
JERMAR JEFFERSON #28 - RUNNING BACK - DETROIT LIONS
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Up from practice squad for Week 16 Jefferson was elevated from Detroit's practice squad Saturday ahead of Sunday's game against the Bears.
Impact Jefferson will provide depth in a Detroit backfield that will be without David Montgomery (knee) for the remainder of the regular season. Jefferson's unlikely to play a significant role behind Jahmyr Gibbs, Craig Reynolds and Sione Vaki.
11 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE
Burning Question: Do Teams Have Advantage Due to Lions Leak? Will leaked photo of Lions' calls prove costly?
DECEMBER 2 • SI.COM
Sticks around in Detroit Jefferson signed with the Lions' practice squad Wednesday.
Impact The Oregon State product was left off the Lions' initial 53-man roster, but he's sticking around on the team's practice squad. Jefferson most recently appeared in a regular-season game with Detroit in 2021, tallying 74 rushing yards and two touchdowns across seven outings.
AUGUST 29 • ROTOWIRE
Doesn't make roster The Lions waived Jefferson on Tuesday.
Impact Jefferson was a seventh-round draft pick by the Lions in 2021 and got into seven regular-season games that year, carrying 15 times for a healthy 74 yards and two touchdowns while adding 23 yards on four catches. He hasn't gotten a regular-season NFL snap since then. Though Jefferson gained a modest 38 yards on 14 carries during the preseason this year, he also scored two rushing touchdowns
AUGUST 28 • ROTOWIRE
Russell Wilson, Justin Fields lead TD drives for Steelers in 24-17 loss to Lions in preseason finale
Russell Wilson and Justin Fields led touchdown drives for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who lost 24-17 to the Detroit Lions in the preseason finale for both teamsAUGUST 24 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Links back with Detroit The Lions signed Jefferson to the practice squad Tuesday.
Impact Jefferson spent training camp with the Lions but was waived with an injury settlement on Sept. 6 due to an undisclosed injury. He had a workout with the Cardinals on Oct. 3 but did not end up signing with the team. The 2021 seventh-round pick will rejoin the Lions on their practice squad and will wait for an opportunity to be called up to the team's active roster this season.
OCTOBER 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Don't Forget About Lions RB Jermar Jefferson Detroit Lions Jermar Jefferson has a chance to make 53-man roster.
JULY 4, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM
Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes, Justin Jefferson among NFL MVP finalists
Jalen Hurts, Justin Jefferson, Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Joe Burrow are finalists for the AP 2022 NFL MVP. See the list of other AP aw...JANUARY 25, 2023
Lands new deal with Detroit The Lions signed Jefferson to a reserve/future contract Monday.
Impact Jefferson will get another chance to carve out a spot with Detroit heading into the offseason. The 2021 seventh-round pick logged 15 carries for 74 yards and two touchdowns across seven games during his rookie season, though he spent the entirety of 2022 on the practice squad before being elevated for Sunday's regular-season finale versus the Packers. Jefferson never wound up taking the field against Green Bay, though his experience with the team was still enough to earn him a new deal heading into this offseason.
JANUARY 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
THE DAILY DRIVE: Lions elevating RB Jermar Jefferson, CB Jarren Williams from practice squad 'Little jabs' have Detroit Lions primed for big things with playoffs in reach vs. Packers
JANUARY 8, 2023 • DETROITLIONS.COM
Bumped up to active roster The Lions elevated Jefferson from the practice squad Saturday for Sunday's game against the Packers.
Impact Jefferson will be brought up from the practice squad for the first time this season ahead of Sunday's must-win regular-season finale. The second-year running back recorded 15 carries for 74 yards and two touchdowns across seven games with Detroit in 2021, though he's yet to make an appearance this season. Expect Jefferson to slot into a reserve/special-teams role behind backup running backs Justin Jackson and Craig Reynolds.
JANUARY 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Detroit Lions waive RB Jermar Jefferson, sign 13 to practice squad All 13 players the Detroit Lions signed to their practice squad Wednesday spent training camp with the team, including Jarrad Davis and Tom...
AUGUST 31, 2022 • FREEP.COM
Lions Announce 2022 Practice Squad, Waive RB Jermar Jefferson These players will remain with the Lions on the practice squad to start the 2022 NFL season.
AUGUST 31, 2022 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM
Lions Announce 2022 Practice Squad, Waive RB Jermar Jefferson These players will remain with the Lions on the practice squad to start the 2022 NFL season.
AUGUST 31, 2022 • KANSASCITY.COM
Jermar Jefferson nearly breaks into clear on 27-yard burst Detroit Lions running back Jermar Jefferson nearly breaks into clear on a 27-yard burst.
AUGUST 28, 2022 • NFL.COM
Stock falling Jefferson rushed seven times for 25 yards during Saturday's preseason win over Indianapolis.
Impact With neither of D'Andre Swift or Jamaal Williams in action, Jefferson was third to rotate in at running back behind interim starter Craig Reynolds and Justin Jackson, who gained 54 yards on the same amount of carries as Jefferson. Each of these guys plus Godwin Igwebuike should get more opportunities to prove their work in the preseason finale next Sunday in Pittsburgh, but Jefferson seems to be headed in the wrong direction in advance of roster cuts.
AUGUST 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Drawing praise from coach Head coach Dan Campbell specified Jefferson as a player having a productive training camp, Colton Pouncy of The Athletic reports.
Impact After a productive career at Oregon, Jefferson failed to find his footing as a seventh-round rookie last year in Detroit. By season's end, both converted safety Godwin Igwebuike and Kutztown product Craig Reynolds had earned more snaps and game appearances than him. However, it seems that Jefferson has worked his way back into the mix this offseason, which opens the door for him to compete with Igwebuike, Reynolds and Justin Jackson for the No. 3 running back job behind D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams.
AUGUST 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Needs to improve on special teams Jefferson could see more playing time this season if he can improve on special teams, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Impact Jefferson averaged over 19 carries per game over three seasons as the offensive centerpiece at Oregon State from 2018 to 2020, but he barely saw the field for the Lions as a rookie. Meanwhile, converted safety Godwin Igwebuike was active every week due to his special-teams contributions and Craig Reynolds eventually worked his way up the depth chart as well. Jefferson ultimately seems to have an uphill battle for a roster spot, but it is nonetheless worth tracking the No. 3 running back job in Detroit considering the coaching staff was willing to give Reynolds 26 carries during a game that D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams both missed last season.
JUNE 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
2021 Rookie Review: Jermar Jefferson photos View photos of Lions running back Jermar Jefferson during his first year with the team
FEBRUARY 15, 2022 • DETROITLIONS.COM
Seven game appearances as rookie Jefferson appeared in seven games in 2021 and rushed 15 times for 74 yards with two touchdowns while catching four of five targets for 23 yards.
Impact It took eight weeks for the seventh-round rookie to see a snap on offense. While it didn't take much longer for a golden opportunity to present itself once D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams started missing games, Jefferson first split time with Godwin Igwebuike before Craig Reynolds ultimately snagged the No. 3 running back spot from both of them. Jefferson is now no higher than No. 4 on the depth chart entering the offseason, and it doesn't seem like he'll have much of an opportunity to climb any higher considering each of Swift, Williams and Reynolds remain under contract in 2022.
JANUARY 10, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Inactive Sunday Jefferson (coach's decision) is inactive Sunday against the Packers.
Impact Jefferson hasn't suited up since Week 15 against the Cardinals. With D'Andre Swift, Jamaal Williams, Craig Reynolds and Godwin Igwebuike ahead of Jefferson on the running back positional depth chart, the Lions will use the roster space at another position Sunday against the Packers.
JANUARY 9, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Inactive against Seattle Jefferson (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Seahawks.
Impact Jefferson is a healthy scratch for the second consecutive game, which is unsurprising given that both Jamaal Williams and D'Andre Swift (shoulder) are available. Craig Reynolds and Godwin Igwebuike make up the rest of the Lions' backfield, though their role is likely to be limited.
JANUARY 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Inactive Sunday Jefferson (coach's decision) will not play Sunday against the Falcons.
Impact Jefferson unexpectedly received very little work with D'Andre Swift (shoulder) and Jamaal Williams on the COVID list. With Williams' return and the emergence of Craig Reynolds, Jefferson will be the odd man out Sunday against the Falcons.
DECEMBER 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Surprisingly small role Jefferson rushed five times for nine yards during Sunday's 30-12 win over Arizona.
Impact Jefferson seemed slated for a large role in the absence of D'Andre Swift (shoulder) and Jamaal Williams, but he ultimately logged just six offensive snaps while Craig Reynolds (42) and Godwin Igwebuike (nine) carried more of the load. With Williams now off the COVID list and Swift set to test his shoulder in practice this week, Jefferson stands to see even less playing time in Week 16 against Atlanta.
DECEMBER 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
