The Detroit Lions have ended their relationship with center Michael Niese, waiving the 28-year-old from injured reserve with an injury settlement, via ESPN’s NFL transaction log.
The move closes a three-year chapter for the interior lineman in Detroit. Niese suffered a leg injury in the Lions’ preseason finale against the Washington Commanders and was waived with an injury designation on Aug. 30.
After going unclaimed, he reverted to injured reserve. The settlement now makes him a free agent once he is healthy enough to sign elsewhere.
Niese, born Jan. 13, 1998, in St. Louis, is listed at 6-foot-5 and 300 pounds. He went undrafted in 2022 after playing at Dayton and Temple, then bounced through the Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers before landing on Detroit’s practice squad in August 2023.
He made his NFL debut later that season and became a reliable depth piece who understood the scheme and the locker room.
Over three seasons with the Lions he appeared in 26 games, including all 17 in 2024 and eight in 2025. Most of his work came on special teams, though he also logged a modest number of offensive snaps as a backup at center and guard.
Detroit valued that versatility enough to re-sign him as an exclusive-rights free agent in 2025 and again to a one-year deal on Jan. 5, 2026. Without the injury, he likely would have competed for a roster or practice-squad spot this fall.
The Lions have already moved on at the position. They added center Seth McLaughlin to the practice squad around the same time they finalized Niese’s departure, continuing a pattern of mixing veterans with younger interior options.
Detroit’s offensive line remains a priority after several offseason changes, and Niese’s exit creates a small amount of cap and roster flexibility.
For Niese, the next step is recovery. At 28 he still has time to land with another team that needs experienced depth who can snap and play guard in a pinch.
Injury settlements are common for players in his situation: they allow the club to clear a roster spot while giving the player a chance to rehab and shop himself once medically cleared.
Niese never became a starter in Detroit, but he lasted longer than most undrafted linemen. He dressed every week in 2024, contributed on special teams, and earned multiple promotions from the practice squad.
That reliability is why the Lions kept bringing him back—until a preseason leg injury forced a different outcome.
The Lions open the 2026 regular season at home against the New Orleans Saints. Niese will watch from the outside, looking for a new opportunity after three seasons in Honolulu blue.
