Lions GM Brad Holmes explains cutting Greg Dortch

ALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions ' decision to release Greg Dortch left many puzzled, including the receiver himself .

Asked why the Lions moved on from Dortch, who looked like he was on track to be Detroit's No. 4 option at receiver and the team's best punt returner, Lions general manager Brad Holmes said it was simply a matter of competition, and Dortch found himself on the outside looking in.

"We wanted to add as much competition as possible this whole offseason. Look, when you add as much competition as possible — it was fierce competition — it adds more discomfort, (and) it also entails harder decisions," Holmes said Wednesday, Sept. 2.. "That's really all it was. (Dortch) was just part of that competition, and unfortunately it just didn't work out. So, that's why we made the move we made."

The Lions ultimately kept four receivers on their initial 53-man roster (Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Isaac TeSlaa and Tay Martin) and brought three more back to their practice squad, in Tom Kennedy, Lucky Jackson and Dominic Lovett. Teams can temporarily elevate players from the practice squad for three games in a single season, which the Lions could do early in the season, with Kennedy being the most obvious candidate.

"Four (receivers) is obviously a little bit on the lighter side. That's just where we're at right now, today, currently," Holmes said. "But I do like the different flavors in that room. Obviously, we all know St. Brown and Jamo and TeSlaa. I know (TeSlaa) dropped a couple balls in a preseason game, but I thought he a had a good camp, too. Just the little things that he does in the run, which, those aren't little things, those are actually really big things that he does in the run game. I thought that he improved with his route running, his releases, all those things."

Martin, 28, signed with the Lions in June after standing out with the UFL's Columbus Aviators. Undrafted in 2022, Martin has made NFL stops with the San Francisco 49ers (2022-24), Tennessee Titans (2024) and Washington Commanders (2025).

Lions coach Dan Campbell praised Martin multiple times throughout training camp, including Aug. 11, when Campbell said Martin "makes plays ever day." Martin has three career catches for 72 yards and a touchdown. He's also played 70 snaps on special teams, including 33 on kickoff coverage and 26 on kickoff return.

In this year's preseason, Martin caught six of his 10 targets for 41 yards and a score.

"He made it relatively easy throughout camp, in terms of his contributions in the run game, his contributions on special teams, and he showed the ability to win one on ones," Holmes said of Martin. "When you're doing all those components at that position, especially when you're looking at towards the back end, you can fit in right here."