Lions Claim RB J.D. McKissic, Release TE Logan Thomas

Tom Pelissero reports that the Lions have claimed former Seahawks RB/WR J.D. McKissic off waivers on Sunday. 

The Lions also announced that they’ve released TE Logan Thomas on Sunday. 

McKissic, 25, wound up signing with the Falcons as an undrafted free agent out of Arkansas State back in 2016. He was, unfortunately, waived coming out of the preseason but was later signed to the Falcons’ practice squad.

Atlanta waived McKissic towards the end of the 2016 season and he was later claimed off of waivers by the Seahawks. Seattle re-signed him to a one-year exclusive rights tender back in April of last year and was, once again, an ERFA this offseason. 

Unfortunately, the Seahawks waived him on Saturday. 

In 2018, McKissic appeared in five games for the Seahawks and recorded three rushing attempts for eight yards and no touchdowns.

Thomas, 27, is a former fourth-round pick of the Cardinals back in 2014. He lasted just over a year in Arizona before he was waived and later claimed by the Dolphins.

Thomas was in the third year his four-year, $2,652,092 rookie contract when the Dolphins waived him in 2017 and he was later claimed by the Giants. He had a brief stint with the Lions after he made the decision to convert to tight end and later caught on with the Bills.

Buffalo declined to tender Thomas a restricted offer this offseason and he later signed on with the Lions. 

In 2018, Thomas appeared in 12 games for the Bills and caught 12 passes for 77 yards receiving and no touchdowns. Pro Football Focus had him rated as the No. 64 tight end out of 70 qualifying players.