Ex-Lions RB Lands With Super Bowl Contender After Surprise Release
The Detroit Lions parted ways with a longtime running back before this week’s Thanksgiving game, and now he’s found a new home with a Super Bowl contender.
The Lions announced on Wednesday that they released veteran Craig Reynolds, who had been with Detroit for the last five seasons. He saw his role dwindling this season, appearing in just seven games and seeing his share of carries on offense down to almost nothing.
Any plans the Lions may have had to bring Reynolds back to their practice squad vanished when he signed with the New England Patriots.
Craig Reynolds Carved Out Important Role in Detroit
Though Reynolds didn’t have a huge impact on offense during his five seasons in Detroit — taking 153 carries for 654 yards and one touchdown — he did have an important role on special teams.
But with the tandem of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery taking nearly all of the carries, and second-year running back Sione Vaki appearing in 57% of the special teams snaps, Reynolds lost his grip on a roster spot.
The Patriots announced on Saturday that they added Reynolds to their practice squad, adding some key depth in the backfield and on special teams. The Patriots released running back Rushawn Baker from the practice squad to make room for Reynolds.
The Patriots have the NFL’s best record at 10-2, the only team to reach double-digit wins so far this season.
The Patriots have spread out their carries on offense, with TreVeyon Henderson leading the way with 118 carries for 558 yards and five touchdowns. Rhamondre Stevenson has 284 yards and three touchdowns, while Antonio Gibson has 106 yards with one touchdown.
Reynolds grew into a fan-favorite player with the Lions, thanks in part to his gritty special teams play. While it’s not clear if the Patriots have any plans to elevate him to the active roster this season, those skills could give him an advantage.
Lions Face Offensive Crisis After Losing Top Receiver
The Lions suffered a major blow with their Thanksgiving loss to the Green Bay Packers, which dropped them out of a playoff spot in the NFC. Detroit also lost top receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, who suffered an ankle injury in the first quarter and did not return.
St. Brown is expected to miss one or two weeks, but head coach Dan Campbell said he believes the team can still keep up the pace. Campbell praised the team’s pass-catching group, saying they can all make plays when needed.
“I do have a lot of trust in Tom Kennedy. I do have a lot of trust in [Jameson Williams], especially when we know what the coverage is and we’ve got him running. We’ve still got Gibbs,” Campbell said,
Canucks lose to Kings 2-1 in overtime
Starting Lineup
There were plenty of notes with the Canucks’ lineup . Kevin Lankinen returned from personal leave, Jonathan Lekkerimäki slotted in for an injured Conor Garland, and Aatu Räty and PO Joseph replaced Lukas Reichel and Elias ‘Junior’ Pettersson, who will both serve as healthy scratches.
First Period
We did not have to wait long for our first bit of action. Driving hard to the net along the goal line was Elias Pettersson, who attempted to tuck it far side on Anton Forsberg nearly 30 seconds into the game. The Canucks thought they had a goal. However, after further review, the puck was 99% over the goal line, but not 100%. No goal. That was about as close as you can get.
https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1994969020614008841
After the Canucks thought they had taken an early lead, the Los Angeles Kings beat Kevin Lankinen to open the scoring…or so they thought.
Two minutes later, the Kings enter the zone with what looks like a close play entering the zone on the opposite side of the puck carrier. The puck takes an odd bounce behind the net, and Pettersson could not corral the puck, allowing former Canuck Andrei Kuzmenko to pick up the loose puck and centre the pass to Trevor Moore in the slot, who fired it behind Lankinen.
However, the Canucks challenged the play for offside and were successful. No goal.
Then, two minutes after that, the Canucks thought they had opened the scoring for the second time of the game, as Drew O’Connor carried the puck into the zone and found Quinn Hughes at the point. Hughes let go of a point shot that Aatu Räty deflected home! Huzzah! A goal!
PSYCHE! Another successful challenge for offside.
With just under four minutes left in the first, Anze Kopitar opened the scoring as Tyler Myers and Marcus Pettersson just… kept backing up…?:
1-0 Kings.
Some takeaways from the first:
-Really liked a couple of the defensive plays from Tom Willander in the first, particularly at defending the rush and his gap control.
-After further review, that first period took years off my life.
-Some solid saves from Kevin Lankinen in the first.
-GO WHITECAPS!!!!!!
Second Period
Already 1-for-1 on the night, the Canucks’ penalty kill got another chance to work when Evander Kane took a hooking penalty. The Canucks killed it off, and upon the expiry of the penalty, Kane took a stretch pass from Drew O’Connor and made no mistake on his breakaway attempt:
1-1.
The Canucks got the game’s next power play when Alex Turcotte put the grab on Marcus Pettersson. Working on their second opportunity of the game, the Canucks’ power play once again struggled and didn’t get many good looks. They didn’t have to wait long for their third, and this time, Jonathan Lekkerimäki got a look on the first unit. They looked much better this time, controlling the zone and getting multiple good looks off on Anton Forsberg.
The Kings got the game’s next power play, thanks to a high-sticking penalty from — you guessed it — Evander Kane. The Canucks killed this one off, as this game remained tied heading into the third.
Some takeaways from the second:
-LOVED to see Lekkerimäki get a chance on PP1. One of the best parts about being a “team in transition” is getting to see the kids play.
-How many minor penalties will Evander Kane finish the season with? He’ll certainly lead the Canucks, but where will he rank league-wide when all is said and done?
Third Period
This was becoming a tight-checking game at 5v5, which meant both teams would be itching to get a power play chance. LA was the next recipient of one of those chances, as Aatu Räty was called for tripping just over seven minutes into the third.
The Kings came close to taking the lead, as an Adrian Kempe point shot made its way through traffic and hit the post behind Lankinen. That was as close as they would come though, as this game returned to even strength.
If you thought the second period was low-event, then you may have flat out fallen asleep during the third. So many broken plays. So many errant passes. This one needed overtime.
Some takeaways from the third:
-Every time I see Andrei Kuzmenko, I think about the good times. I’m not suggesting he was the reason the team had good times, or that they should try to bring him back or anything like that. But he had plenty of great moments in this city and was one of the most exciting players in recent memory. Just reminds me of those times every time I see him in another team’s uniform.
-Another reminder that Filip Hronek has been phenomenal this season.
Overtime
NHL overtime is just so action-packed. There’s no point even trying to do written play-by-play, to be honest. There were a lot of 2-on-1s, and the Canucks tried to keep possession as best they could. Unfortunately, Adrian Kempe put an end to the Canucks’ hopes. I thought this could have been goalie interference, but the goal stood.
2-1 final.
Over 30 minutes of ice time for Quinn Hughes.
What’s your instant reaction to this game? Let us know in the comments section below!
