Lions Cut Ties With Injured Super Bowl Champion Cornerback

The Detroit Lions, like every other team across the NFL, are beginning to make their roster cuts, as 53-man rosters need to be set by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Some tough decisions will have to be made, but ahead of the deadline, the front office has decided to unload some players who aren’t necessarily on the bubble of making the roster.

None of these decisions are easy, but it’s what every team has to go through in order to make it to Week 1 of the regular season. Case in point, the Lions decided to release a former Super Bowl champion, cornerback Dicaprio Bootle, as they simply did not have space for him on their roster after he suffered an injury earlier this month.

Lions Release Cornerback Dicaprio Bootle

After going undrafted in the 2021 NFL Draft, Bootle latched on with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he spent his first two seasons in the league. Bootle played sparingly during his time with the Chiefs, but he ended up winning a championship with the team after they took down the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII.

Bootle would find his way to the Carolina Panthers in 2023, which is the team he received the most playing time with during his career. In eight games, two of which were starts, Bootle racked up 14 tackles and two pass deflections, but his momentum was disrupted when he suffered a knee injury in November that resulted in him landing on injured reserve.

Last season, Bootle spent time with the Los Angeles Chargers, and while he appeared in six games, he only picked up three tackles. Bootle was snagged by the Lions this offseason, but he suffered a lower leg injury that led to him being placed on injured reserve. Now, the two sides have reached an injury settlement, with Bootle being free to sign with another team.

“Lions have released CB Dicaprio Bootle from Reserve/Injured with an Injury Settlement,” the team announced in a post on X.

Lions Feel Secure with Cornerback Depth After Dicaprio Bootle Release

GettyThe Lions released former Super Bowl champion cornerback Dicaprio Bootle

Bootle always was going to face long odds to make the Lions’ 53-man roster, especially after suffering his aforementioned injury. With Terrion Arnold and D.J. Reed at the boundary cornerback spots, and Amik Robertson being the team’s nickelback, Detroit is well-stocked at this spot. Bootle has upside, but his path to playing time with this team was virtually nonexistent.

While his season was initially believed to be over, Bootle now has a shot to get himself healthy and join a new team. Bootle’s best chances of finding a new home in the NFL involve him landing on a practice squad and developing behind the scenes. It’s a shame that his tenure with the Lions never really got off the ground, but cuts are going to be happening at a high volume over the next 24 hours, and it will be worth keeping an eye on the next moves this team makes.