Jefferson (undisclosed) was waived/injured by the Lions on Tuesday, per the NFL's transaction log.

EDGE Analysis

The nature of Jefferson's injury is unclear at this time. Assuming he clears waivers, his next step will be reverting to the team's injured reserve. From there, he will be looking at a 2023 season on the sideline unless both he and the team can reach an injury settlement at some point.

The Lions signed Jefferson to a reserve/future contract Monday.

EDGE Analysis

Jefferson will get another chance to carve out a spot with Detroit heading into the offseason. The 2021 seventh-round pick logged 15 carries for 74 yards and two touchdowns across seven games during his rookie season, though he spent the entirety of 2022 on the practice squad before being elevated for Sunday's regular-season finale versus the Packers. Jefferson never wound up taking the field against Green Bay, though his experience with the team was still enough to earn him a new deal heading into this offseason.

The Lions elevated Jefferson from the practice squad Saturday for Sunday's game against the Packers.

EDGE Analysis

Jefferson will be brought up from the practice squad for the first time this season ahead of Sunday's must-win regular-season finale. The second-year running back recorded 15 carries for 74 yards and two touchdowns across seven games with Detroit in 2021, though he's yet to make an appearance this season. Expect Jefferson to slot into a reserve/special-teams role behind backup running backs Justin Jackson and Craig Reynolds.

The Lions signed Jefferson to their practice squad Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

Jefferson initially made the team's 53-man roster but was waived a day later. However, he's returned to the organization on a practice-squad deal. The 2021 seventh-round pick appeared in seven games as a rookie, totaling 19 touches for 97 yards and two scores.

Detroit waived Jefferson on Wednesday, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

It initially appeared as though Jefferson had secured a spot on the depth chart after he survived Tuesday's 53-man roster deadline, but he'll now become an unrestricted free agent assuming he isn't claimed during the current waiver period. The move leaves D'Andre Swift, Jamaal Williams and Craig Reynolds as the remaining running backs on the Lions' active roster.

Jefferson made the Lions' initial 53-man roster Tuesday as their No. 4 running back, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.

EDGE Analysis

After being outdone by Justin Jackson this preseason while seemingly offering less value on special teams than Godwin Igwebuike, Jefferson surprisingly survived roster cuts after getting beat out by Igwebuike in 2021. However, Craig Reynolds remains in the No. 3 slot, so Jefferson won't necessarily be next in line for work if something happens to D'Andre Swift or Jamaal Williams.

Jefferson rushed seven times for 25 yards during Saturday's preseason win over Indianapolis.

EDGE Analysis

With neither of D'Andre Swift or Jamaal Williams in action, Jefferson was third to rotate in at running back behind interim starter Craig Reynolds and Justin Jackson, who gained 54 yards on the same amount of carries as Jefferson. Each of these guys plus Godwin Igwebuike should get more opportunities to prove their worth in the preseason finale next Sunday in Pittsburgh, but Jefferson seems to be headed in the wrong direction in advance of roster cuts.

Head coach Dan Campbell specified Jefferson as a player having a productive training camp, Colton Pouncy of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

After a productive career at Oregon, Jefferson failed to find his footing as a seventh-round rookie last year in Detroit. By season's end, both converted safety Godwin Igwebuike and Kutztown product Craig Reynolds had earned more snaps and game appearances than him. However, it seems that Jefferson has worked his way back into the mix this offseason, which opens the door for him to compete with Igwebuike, Reynolds and Justin Jackson for the No. 3 running back job behind D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams.

Running backs coach Duce Staley indicated that Jefferson could see more playing time if he can improve on special teams, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.

EDGE Analysis

Jefferson averaged over 19 carries per game over three seasons as the offensive centerpiece at Oregon State from 2018 to 2020, but he barely saw the field as a rookie. Meanwhile, converted safety Godwin Igwebuike was active every week due to his special-teams contributions and Craig Reynolds eventually worked his way up the depth chart as well. Jefferson ultimately seems to have an uphill battle for a roster spot, but it is nonetheless worth tracking the No. 3 running back job in Detroit considering the coaching staff was willing to give Reynolds 26 carries in a game that D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams both missed last season.

Jefferson appeared in seven games in 2021 and rushed 15 times for 74 yards with two touchdowns while catching four of five targets for 23 yards.

EDGE Analysis

It took eight weeks for the seventh-round rookie to see a snap on offense. While it didn't take much longer for a golden opportunity to present itself once D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams started missing games, Jefferson first split time with Godwin Igwebuike before Craig Reynolds ultimately snagged the No. 3 running back spot from both of them. Jefferson is now no higher than No. 4 on the depth chart entering the offseason, and it doesn't seem like he'll have much of an opportunity to climb any higher considering each of Swift, Williams and Reynolds remain under contract in 2022.