It would have been unthinkable two years ago, but the Detroit Lions announced Tuesday that they have waived defensive end James Houston.

The Lions drafted Houston in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He failed to make the initial 53-man roster that year but went to the team’s practice squad. After making a strong impression in practice, the Lions eventually signed him to the 53-man roster midseason and he was a pass rush phenom. In just seven games, Houston recorded 8.0 sacks and 11 quarterback hits.

Entering his second season, the expectation was that he would take another step and work well with Aidan Hutchinson to give Detroit a lethal pass rush. But Houston never quite fit what the Lions wanted in their edge defenders: he struggled with the run and he didn’t maintain the integrity of the rush lane. He started 2023 as just a rotation player and then lost most of the season with a broken ankle.

This year it was more of the same. Houston struggled to crack the lineup. Even with several injuries at the EDGE position — Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport and Derrick Barnes all with long-term injuries — Houston barely found a role, and when he came in, he struggled with production. This season, he has just 116 defensive plays in eight games and has recorded just one sack, two quarterback hits and eight total tackles.

“We had James for a couple of games, he came back from the injury and came back, and it just never quite worked,” Campbell said. “Look, wish him luck. Sometimes you just need a fresh start and this could be great for him.”

As of now, it’s unclear what the Lions plan to do with the open roster spot.

Houston will have to deal with waivers, and if he goes unclaimed, he will be a free agent who can sign with any team.