Lions Cut Jake Rudock
By Will Burchfield
@burchie_kid
In the end, it just wasn't enough.
Despite Jake Rudock's strong performance in the final game of the preseason, the Lions have decided to cut the rookie quarterback from their 53-man roster.
The news was first reported by Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
The Lions are waiving QB Jake Rudock. Dan Orlovsky is the backup
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) September 3, 2016
There's still a good chance Rudock returns to the Lions as a member of the practice squad, but he'll have to clear waivers first. That's no guarantee, certainly not with teams looking to make upgrades at the backup quarterback position.
[MORE: Full List Of Players Cut By Lions]
By waiving Rudock, the Lions made clear their preference for Dan Orlovsky. The ten-year vet is more familiar with the team's offense and has played under Jim Caldwell for the last two years.
Rudock played pretty good in that last preseason game. But Caldwell keeps his guy as backup.
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) September 3, 2016
The Lions are in the midst of shaving their roster from 75 players to 53 ahead of Saturday's 4 p.m. deadline. Rudock wasn't the only Week-4 standout to end up on waivers. Wide receiver Jace Billingsley, who caught eight passes and a touchdown in his final audition, was cut earlier in the day.