The Detroit Lions waived safety Brandon Joseph as part of a slew of roster moves Saturday after the second-year player was arrested for suspicion of operating under the influence, Dearborn Heights police told the Free Press.
Paul Vanderplow, DHPD director, said Joseph was pulled over for speeding on Michigan Avenue around 1:47 a.m. Saturday and taken into custody "for a few hours" before he was released. Joseph was traveling over the posted speed limit "but it was not excessive speed," Vanderplow said.
"He was very compliant, he was very respectful," Vanderplow said. "He went through the battery of tests, through those tests now we have some analysis to go through before charges can be done, as we do with any other suspicion of OUI. He'll go through that process, and then go through the court process like anybody else."
Vanderplow said he did not know if Joseph took a breathalyzer test or what the results were, but said police did a blood draw after Joseph's arrest.
The Lions, who declined comment Saturday evening, waived Joseph and return man Maurice Alexander, activated Ifeatu Melifonwu from injured reserve and signed three players off the practice squad: receiver Tom Kennedy and defensive linemen Chris Smith and Mitchell Agude.
Melifonwu has not played this season because of Achilles tendon and finger injuries, but returned to practice off IR this week. He is questionable to play Sunday, though Lions coach Dan Campbell indicated Friday that Melifonwu could have a role on the Lions' injury-depleted defense.
The Lions have six defensive starters on injured reserve and lost starting cornerback Carlton Davis (jaw) and defensive tackle Alim McNeill (ACL) to injuries last week.
"He's gotten a little better every day," Campbell said of Melifonwu. "It's good to have him back and it's good to see him out there, functioning, working the position, and so that's a good thing."
Joseph, who signed with the Lions last spring as an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame, had played about 20% of the Lions' defensive snaps as the team's third safety and about a quarter of special-teams snaps this season. He took over as the team's second special-teams gunner after Khalil Dorsey broke his leg in last week's loss to the Buffalo Bills.
The Lions (12-2) also elevated running back Jermar Jefferson and safety Loren Strickland from the practice squad to the gameday roster for Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears (4-10) and waived defensive lineman David Bada from injured reserve with an injury settlement.