One of the more surprising moves the Detroit Lions made on cutdown day was waiving 2025 sixth-round pick and EDGE Ahmed Hassanein with an injury settlement.
Hassanein was expected to miss time with a pectoral injury suffered in preseason Week 2, but the thought was that the Lions would stash him on injured reserve.
Instead, the Lions waived Hassanein with the aforementioned injury settlement, which exposed him to waivers. Ultimately, Hassanein wasn't claimed.
On Thursday, general manager Brad Holmes addressed the media and said that Hassanein will be back with the team at some point this season.
"Bottom line, he's gonna be a Detroit Lion. He's gonna be back on the football field this year," Holmes said of Hassanein, per Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News.
Holmes added that the decision the Lions made gives Hassanein the best chance to return to the practice field this season.
The move to waive Hassanein with the injury settlement allows the Lions to avoid using one of their return from IR designations on him, which the team likely covets even more than normal after an injury-plagued 2024 season.
While it's great news Hassanein will be back in Detroit at some point, the Lions still have major concerns along the edge, especially when it comes to depth behind the injury-prone Marcus Davenport.
Josh Paschal is starting the season on the NFI list, which means he has to miss the first four games. Al-Quadin Muhammad, who has 15 sacks over seven seasons, remains the top backup in Detroit.
The Lions have a week-plus to make a move before the start of the season, but there hasn't been any indication something is imminent.
MORE DETROIT LIONS NEWS
How experts graded Detroit Lions' trade with Jacksonville Jaguars
Detroit Lions award two players off waivers
Where Detroit Lions' initial 53-man roster ranks in average age
What Tim Patrick trade means for Isaac TeSlaa's stock with Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions' updated list of 2026 draft picks after Tim Patrick trade