Jefferson signed with the Cardinals' practice squad Wednesday.
With both James Conner (foot) and Trey Benson (knee) being placed on injured reserve, Jefferson's signing provides a depth option at running back. He last played for the Lions in 2024, taking six carries for 22 yards over 12 offensive snaps. Jefferson could be elevated to the Cardinals' active roster as soon as the Week 5 matchup against the Titans.
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Jermar Jefferson: Cut from practice squad
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Tennessee cut Jefferson from its practice squad Friday, per the NFL's transaction log.
Just two days after joining the Titans' practice squad, Jefferson is now parting ways with the team. He's in line to become a free agent and will likely have to look for his next opportunity with a new organization.
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Titans' Jermar Jefferson: Efficient in final preseason game
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Jefferson rushed the ball eight times for 41 yards in Friday's 23-13 preseason win over the Vikings. He added one reception on one target for 11 yards.
Jefferson was the final Titans' back to enter Friday's game, though he did mix in with Jordan Mims throughout the second half. Jefferson was the more efficient back of the duo, with much of his yardage coming on a 29-yard attempt that he immediately followed up with an 11-yard reception. His usage suggests he has a limited chance to make the roster heading into the regular season, though Jefferson did conclude the preseason impressively.
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Titans' Jermar Jefferson: Catches on with Tennessee
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The Titans signed Jefferson to a contract Wednesday, Jim Wyatt of the team's official site reports.
Jefferson appeared in two regular-season games for the Lions in 2024, posting six carries for 22 yards and one catch on as many targets for 10 yards. The 2021 seventh-round pick will use training camp and the preseason to audition for a spot on the Titans' 53-man roster.
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Lions' Jermar Jefferson: Three carries in win
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Jefferson rushed the ball three times for nine yards in Monday night's 40-34 victory over San Francisco.
Jefferson was elevated to the active roster for the second game in a row Monday, garnering three opportunities out of the backfield, two of which were goal-line carries in the first quarter. For the second straight week, he rushed the ball while rookie Sione Vaki went without a carry, so Jefferson may be considered Detroit's No. 3 running back behind Jahmyr Gibbs and Craig Reynolds for the time being with David Montgomery (knee) unavailable.
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Lions' Jermar Jefferson: Elevated for Week 17
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The Lions elevated Jefferson from the practice squad to the active roster ahead of Monday night's game against the 49ers.
Jefferson will be elevated for a second straight week and serve as the Lions' fourth-string running back behind Jahmyr Gibbs, Craig Reynolds and Sione Vaki. Jefferson played 12 snaps (five on offense, seven on special teams) during the Lions' Week 16 win over the Bears and logged three carries for 13 yards while hauling in his lone target for 10 yards.
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Jermar Jefferson: Reverts to practice squad
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Jefferson reverted to the Lions' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
Jefferson was elevated to the active roster for the first time this season due to the absence of David Montgomery (knee). Jefferson served as the Lions' No. 4 running back behind Jahmyr Gibbs, Craig Reynolds and Sione Vaki, and Jefferson ended up logging three carries for 13 yards while hauling in his lone target for an additional 10 yards during garbage time in Detroit's 34-17 win over Chicago. Jefferson could be elevated for the Lions' Week 17 clash against the 49ers on Monday night.
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Jermar Jefferson: Doesn't make roster
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The Lions waived Jefferson on Tuesday.
Jefferson was a seventh-round draft pick by the Lions in 2021 and got into seven regular-season games that year, carrying 15 times for a healthy 74 yards and two touchdowns while adding 23 yards on four catches. He hasn't gotten a regular-season NFL snap since then. Though Jefferson gained a modest 38 yards on 14 carries during the preseason this year, he also scored two rushing touchdowns
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Lions' Jermar Jefferson: Healthy for offseason program
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Jefferson (undisclosed) was on the field last week for the start of Detroit's offseason program.
Jefferson finished the 2023 campaign on Lions' practice squad injured list after sustaining an undisclosed injury in late January. The nature of the 24-year-old's issue was never revealed, though he appears to have moved past the injury over the past few months. Jefferson hasn't seen any regular-season NFL action since 2021, as he's spent both of the past two campaigns on Detroit's practice squad.
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Lions' Jermar Jefferson: Inks new deal
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Jefferson (undisclosed) signed a reserve/future contract with the Lions on Tuesday, Justin Rogers of The Detroit News reports.
Jefferson has spent his entire three-year career in the Lions organization, though he hasn't seen any NFL action since 2021 and has spent the better part of the past two seasons on the practice squad. The Oregon State product will stick around with the Lions heading into 2024 and will look to compete for a roster spot, provided he's made a full recovery from the health concern that caused him to be placed on the practice squad injured list last week.
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Jermar Jefferson: Dealing with injury
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The Lions placed Jefferson on the practice squad injured list Wednesday due to an unspecified issue.
Jefferson will be ineligible to take part in practices with the Lions for the remainder of the postseason while he recovers from the injury. The 23-year-old running back logged 15 carries for 74 yards and two touchdowns over seven appearances as a rookie with the Lions in 2021 but hasn't seen any game action since while spending both of the past two seasons on Detroit's practice squad.
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Jermar Jefferson: Links back with Detroit
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The Lions signed Jefferson to the practice squad Tuesday.
Jefferson spent training camp with the Lions but was waived with an injury settlement on Sept. 6 due to an undisclosed injury. He had a workout with the Cardinals on Oct. 3 but did not end up signing with the team. The 2021 seventh-round pick will rejoin the Lions on their practice squad and will wait for an opportunity to be called up to the team's active roster this season.
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Lions' Jermar Jefferson: Reverts to IR
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Jefferson (undisclosed) reverted to Detroit's injured reserve Wednesday, per the NFL's transaction log.
Jefferson cleared waivers after being cut Tuesday, so barring an injury designation, he will now spend the rest of the 2023 season on IR. The exact nature of the 2021 seventh-round pick's injury remains undisclosed.
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Jermar Jefferson: Waived with injury designation
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Jefferson (undisclosed) was waived/injured by the Lions on Tuesday, per the NFL's transaction log.
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.
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Lions' Jermar Jefferson: Lands new deal with Detroit
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The Lions signed Jefferson to a reserve/future contract Monday.
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.
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Jermar Jefferson: Joins Detroit's practice squad
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The Lions signed Jefferson to their practice squad Thursday.
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.
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Jermar Jefferson: Goes onto waivers
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Detroit waived Jefferson on Wednesday, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.
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.
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Lions' Jermar Jefferson: Survives roster cuts
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Jefferson made the Lions' initial 53-man roster Tuesday as their No. 4 running back, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.
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.
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Lions' Jermar Jefferson: Drawing praise from coach
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Head coach Dan Campbell specified Jefferson as a player having a productive training camp, Colton Pouncy of The Athletic reports.
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.
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Lions' Jermar Jefferson: Surprisingly small role
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Jefferson rushed five times for nine yards during Sunday's 30-12 win over Arizona.
Jefferson seemed slated for a large role in the absence of D'Andre Swift (shoulder) and Jamaal Williams, but he ultimately logged just six offensive snaps while Craig Reynolds (42) and Godwin Igwebuike (nine) carried more of the load. With Williams now off the reserve/COVID-19 list and Swift set to test his shoulder in practice this week, Jefferson stands to see even less playing time Week 16 against Atlanta.
