Detroit Lions sign Geronimo Allison to 53-man roster

The Detroit Lions announced on Wednesday morning that they’ve signed wide receiver Geronimo Allison to the 53-man roster after spending most of the first six weeks on the practice squad.

Allison was signed by the Lions last year but opted out due to COVID-19 concerns. While he didn’t make the initial roster, the Lions quickly signed Allison to their practice squad. Last week against the Cincinnati Bengals—amid injuries at the wide receiver position—the Lions temporarily elevated Allison to the active roster. The veteran receiver played in 13 offensive snaps and 15 special teams snaps but did not see a ball thrown his way from Jared Goff.

Earlier this week, Lions head coach Dan Campbell said he was planning on shaking things up in terms of practice, strategy, and personnel. Given his comments about how the receivers played in Sunday’s game against the Bengals, it should come as little surprise that Detroit may be turning to Allison for a little receiver production.

“(Goff is) trying to make a throw with guys that are MA-ing (Missed Assignments), and so he can’t even trust where the hell they’re supposed to be at,” Campbell said. “So I’m with you. I don’t mean to get upset. Look, he’s got to make some throws, and then our receivers have to be where they’re supposed to be when they’re supposed to be there.”

Allison is a five-year veteran in the NFL who, at one point in his career, caught 34 passes in one season with the Green Bay Packers. He is the most experienced Lions receiver on the roster, which could give him the edge over recently-acquired Trinity Benson (who was a health scratch last week) and KhaDarel Hodge (who only has three catches for 26 yards in the past two weeks).