With the regular season nearing, the Detroit Lions have waived-injured safety Don Carey and tight end Nathan Overbay, according to Lions beat writer Tim Twentyman. Both players were competing for roster spots this summer, but they've ultimately been let go just weeks before the beginning of the 2012 season.
Carey and Overbay now hit waivers, so every other team in the league will have the opportunity to claim them both. If they each pass through unclaimed, the Lions can either place them on injured reserve or agree to injury settlements that make them free agents.
Carey, 25, spent the 2011 season with the Lions after starting ten games with the Jacksonville Jaguars as a rookie in 2010. He only played five games with Detroit last season, recording five tackles and one defended pass, although he did intercept a pass during his rookie year.
Unlike Carey, Overbay has never played in the NFL before. The 25-year-old played for three years in college at Eastern Washington, but he didn't put up eye-popping numbers and he's never hung on with an NFL franchise. Detroit may be going with Austin Wells as the second tight end behind Brandon Pettigrew now.
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