For the second season in a row, the Detroit Lions have cut former South Dakota State running back Zach Zenner.
The former FCS All-American was released in Week 2 last season after being placed on injured reserve, but the team signed him out of desparation. The Eagan, Minn., native played in eight games and made one start last year after Kerryon Johnson was lost to a season-ending knee injury.
Zenner played as the Lions’ No. 4 running back for most of this preseason, behind Johnson, C.J. Anderson and rookie Ty Johnson, but seemed to be in line to make the 53-man roster because of his special-teams ability.
Zenner originally signed with the Lions as an undrafted free agent out of South Dakota State in 2015 after three consecutive 2,000-yard seasons.
According to the Detroit Free Press, he was a fan favorite who led the Lions with 183 yards rushing that preseason, and appeared in 36 games over the past four seasons, mostly as a backup.
Zenner had a career-high 93 yards on 21 carries in the Lions’ season-ending win over the Green Bay Packers last season. He signed a one-year deal to stay in Detroit this spring.
