Detroit Lions cut K Riley Patterson to clear roster space for rookie QB Hendon Hooker

The Detroit Lions are taking full advantage of the NFL's rules on practice squads.

The Lions waived kicker Riley Patterson on Tuesday to clear a roster spot for rookie quarterback Hendon Hooker, leaving practice squad kicker Michael Badgley to handle field goals for the time being.

Lions coach Dan Campbell said Monday the team intended to activate Hooker to the 53-man roster once his practice window expired. Hooker had been on the nonfootball injury list since the start of training camp rehabbing from the torn ACL he suffered in college.

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He spent the past three weeks going through individual drills and taking some scout-team reps behind starter Jared Goff and backup Teddy Bridgewater.

The Lions felt it was important for Hooker to continue his development by taking practice reps through the end of the season. Had they not brought him back to the 53-man roster, he would have reverted to NFI and been unable to practice the rest of the year.

Patterson, who handled kicking duties the first 13 games of the year, missed extra points in losses to the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers in recent weeks and was benched in favor of Badgley for last week's win over the Denver Broncos.

Badgley, who kicked for the Lions most of last season, made all six of his extra points and did not attempt a field goal against the Broncos after what Campbell said was about a five-week competition for the job.

"So this was something we wanted to do, give Badge a go with Riley and they’ve been battling it out, and he won it, for this game," Campbell said. "It just was right and it’s been that way for a while and this was the right move and so we’re going to go there. Got a lot of faith in Badgley."

Teams can elevate players from the practice squad up to three times in a season before they have to promote them to the 53-man roster. Badgley has two gameday elevations remaining.

If Patterson returns on the practice squad, he could kick in up to three more games before the Lions would have to add him to the 53-man roster.

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.