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Tay Martin Beats Out Established Veteran for Lions Roster Spot
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- Tay Martin Beats Out Established Veteran for Lions Roster Spot
The Detroit Lions wrapped up the preseason with a win over the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday, meaning head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes have been spending all of Sunday cutting the roster down to 53 players .
Detroit has made a lot of expected cuts, but the most shocking move so far has been wide receiver Greg Dortch . Entering the day, Dortch was considered a roster lock by many, but the Lions have decided to go in a different direction.
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That direction is retaining Tay Martin , who has emerged as one of the biggest winners of the summer in the Motor City.
Tay Martin Makes Lions' Initial 53-Man Roster
Aug 3, 2026; Allen Park, MI, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Tay Martin (17) smiles during Detroit Lions training camp. Mandatory Credit: Paul Barnick-Imagn Images
After it was revealed by Tom Pelissero of Netflix Sports that Detroit is cutting Dortch , Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News reported that Martin has made the Lions' initial 53-man roster . The 28-year-old signed with Detroit in June after spending the spring with the Columbus Aviators in the UFL.
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Martin drew praise from Campbell after the opening preseason game for his willingness to do the dirty work , so it was clear then that he was highly regarded by the coaching staff. Though he only hauled in two catches in the first two preseason contests, Martin tallied a touchdown in the finale against the Colts and solidified his roster case.
It's surprising that the Lions cut ties with Dortch. The veteran receiver is familiar with new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing's system, is a solid returner, and is a viable depth piece in the position group . A reunion is still possible, but Dortch should have interest from other teams as well.
But the Lions are opting to keep Martin, and we'll see what the rest of the receiver room looks like when the franchise releases the full 53-man roster. As of now, Tom Kennedy, Dominic Lovett , and Malik Cunningham are still on the team.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Aug 31, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
