The Detroit Lions made a corresponding roster move on Monday after acquiring safety Andre Cisco from the New York Jets, waiving tight end Jackson Meeks to clear a spot, the team announced.

The 23-year-old undrafted free agent had carved out a place on the active roster earlier this season after converting from wide receiver, but the addition of Cisco forced the team to part ways with him for the time being.

Meeks signed with Detroit following the 2025 draft after a productive senior season at Syracuse, where he earned second-team All-ACC honors.

He had previously spent three seasons at Georgia, contributing to national championship teams in 2021 and 2022.

As a rookie, Meeks failed to make the initial 53-man roster and was waived in late August, only to rejoin the Lions on the practice squad.

He earned multiple elevations during the year before signing a reserve/future contract that kept him in the organization.

The real turning point arrived this past offseason. Meeks bulked up by roughly 25 pounds and shifted full-time to tight end, a move the coaching staff viewed as his clearest path to contributing.

At 6-foot-2 and 235 pounds, he brought receiver-like athleticism and route-running ability into a position group headed by Sam LaPorta.

He impressed enough during training camp and the preseason to earn a spot on the opening 53-man roster, marking a significant step for a player who had previously been on the bubble.

In the regular season, opportunities remained limited. Meeks appeared in four games and recorded one reception for eight yards.

The Lions’ tight-end depth, which also includes Brock Wright and Tyler Conklin, left little room for steady snaps, and the Cisco trade simply accelerated the decision to move on.

Because Meeks has not yet accrued enough seasons to be a vested veteran, he must pass through waivers rather than being released outright.

That process gives every team a chance to claim him before Detroit could potentially bring him back to the practice squad.

For a player who has repeatedly fought to stick with the same organization, the latest cut continues a familiar pattern.

Meeks has shown the ability to adapt—moving positions, adding weight, and earning repeated looks from the Lions—yet roster math and the pursuit of defensive help at the trade deadline took priority.

Whether he clears waivers and returns to Allen Park or finds a new home elsewhere, his path through the league remains one of persistence after entering as an undrafted prospect.