The Detroit Lions have made another roster move this week, parting ways with a familiar face on offense to bring in reinforcements for the defense.
On Tuesday, the team announced that wide receiver Ronnie Bell was released from the practice squad. The move clears space for the Lions to re-sign linebacker Ty Summers, a player who briefly spent time with Detroit this past summer.
Ronnie Bell’s Short Stay in Detroit
Bell, once seen as a developmental piece for the Lions, struggled to carve out a meaningful role. The former Michigan Wolverines standout entered the league as a seventh-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers in 2023 and showed flashes of potential during his rookie campaign. He played in all 17 games that year, primarily on special teams, but still managed six receptions for 68 yards and three touchdowns — an impressive scoring rate for such limited opportunities.
This season, however, Bell’s impact shrank. He made just two catches for 22 yards across nine appearances, and when Detroit elevated undrafted rookie Jackson Meeks over him for last Sunday’s matchup against the Cleveland Browns, it was clear Bell’s standing with the team had slipped. Despite catching five of six preseason targets for 62 yards, the crowded receiver room ultimately made him expendable.
A Familiar Face Returns
To fill the vacancy, the Lions turned back to a player who knows their system — Ty Summers. The 6-foot-1, 241-pound linebacker spent part of training camp in Detroit but didn’t make the final roster. He then landed with the New York Giants, where he played 16 games with two starts in 2024. Summers recorded 29 tackles and a pass breakup, proving he could handle rotational snaps on defense.
Originally drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 2019, Summers brings depth and special teams experience to a Lions defense that has quickly become one of the team’s strengths this season.
Derrick Barnes Leading the Way
Even with Summers returning, the spotlight at linebacker belongs to Derrick Barnes, who signed a three-year extension earlier this offseason. Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard has been vocal about Barnes’ importance, praising his ability to line up at multiple linebacker spots and even at defensive end. His versatility gives the Lions flexibility in disguising coverages and creating pressure looks.
For Bell, the move means searching for a new NFL opportunity, while Summers’ reunion with Detroit bolsters a unit that continues to grow into one of the NFC’s most reliable groups.
