Lions general manager Brad Holmes and assistant general manager Ray Agnew spoke to the media Thursday after Detroit whittled down their roster to an initial 50 (now 52) players and formed an initial 15-man practice squad earlier this week.

Now the focus shifts to the Green Bay Packers on Sept. 7 and Week 1 of the regular season.

Here are my 10 biggest takeaways from Holmes and Agnew:

1. Why 50 and not 53 on the initial roster Tuesday before the waiver wire opened Wednesday morning?

For Holmes and Agnew, it was simple. There were 50 players who earned the right to make the roster out of training camp, not 53.

"We don't say, 'Well, who are the first three out? Let's put them on the team," Holmes said. "They didn't really but.' That's not how it works around here."

Leaving three open s

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