Lions activate DE Armonty Bryant, WR TJ Jones
New Orleans – The Detroit Lions announced a pair of transactions Saturday, activating defensive end Armonty Bryant from the commissioner’s exempt list following his three-game suspension and promoting practice squad wide receiver TJ Jones to the active roster.
To clear the space, the Lions released running back Justin Forsett and cornerback Johnthan Banks.
Jones, a sixth-round pick in 2014, appeared in 10 games for the Lions last season, catching 10 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown. His activation could be a bad sign for starter Marvin Jones, who had been listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints with a thigh injury.
Bryant’s re-addition to the defensive line rotation gives the group a much-needed pass-rushing boost. In the four games before the suspension, he tallied three sacks.
The Lions dump Banks a little more than a month after dealing a conditional seventh-round pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the trade deadline. He appeared in two games for the Lions, playing 25 snaps rotating into the lineup for starter Nevin Lawson.
Forsett, brought in when Detroit was dealing with injuries to Theo Riddick and Dwayne Washington, appeared in two games, carrying the ball 13 times for 38 yards. Forsett has been a healthy scratch the past four games.