The Detroit Lions have made a series of roster moves as they prepare for the regular season, including waiving rookie edge rusher Ahmed Hassanein with an injury settlement. This move has raised questions among fans, as Hassanein was a 2025 sixth-round pick who showed promise during training camp and the preseason.
Why Waive Hassanein?
Hassanein suffered a pec injury in preseason Week 2, which was expected to sideline him for a significant period. Head coach Dan Campbell even suggested that Hassanein might miss the entire season. Waiving him with an injury settlement allows the Lions to manage their roster more effectively.
Here's why:
- Avoiding Injured Reserve Before Cutdown: Placing Hassanein on injured reserve before the cutdown deadline would have meant he couldn't return this season.
- Roster Spot Flexibility: Placing him on injured reserve after the deadline would have required the Lions to use a roster spot on him initially.
- Preserving IR Designations: Activating Hassanein from injured reserve later in the season would have used one of their two return-from-IR designations, valuable resources for a team that struggled with injuries last season.
Can Hassanein Return to the Lions?
Yes, Hassanein can return to the Lions once he's healthy and after the settlement period has passed. According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, this move isn't necessarily the end of Hassanein's time in Detroit.
The Risk
The only risk for the Lions is that another team could claim Hassanein off waivers. However, it's rare for a player waived with an injury settlement to be picked up by another team.
What's Next for Hassanein?
Assuming he clears waivers, Hassanein will focus on recovering from his pec injury. If he recovers well and the Lions still have interest, he could potentially rejoin the team later in the season or in the future. He was expected to play a backup role this season.
The Lions are making strategic moves to optimize their roster while also keeping the door open for Hassanein's potential return when he's fully recovered.