After months of speculation, the Detroit Lions have officially parted ways with edge rusher James Houston.

Houston, who made an unforgettable impact on Thanksgiving Day two years ago with two sacks of Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, has now seen his time with the Lions come to an end.

This move came just days before Thanksgiving this year.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler was the first to report that Houston was being released, and the team later confirmed it by waiving him.

Houston’s journey with the Lions took off with a strong rookie season in 2022, where he registered eight sacks over the final seven games.

However, an ankle injury derailed much of his second season, leaving him with a difficult road to recovery heading into this year.

The Lions initially provided him with some grace, hoping the injury could serve as a reason for his underperformance. But even after he had time to recover, the writing seemed to be on the wall since preseason.

During training camp and throughout the year, the Lions shifted their approach to Houston, moving away from trying to develop him as a SAM linebacker and focusing solely on his pass-rushing duties.

Despite this change, it appeared that head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes had differing views on his place on the roster.

Campbell, in particular, was reluctant to give up on Houston, but the lack of playing time and Houston’s limited role hinted at a potential exit.

Houston was a healthy scratch in three of the first five games this season, contributing just a handful of defensive snaps in the games he did play.

His most notable performance came in Week 10 against the Houston Texans, when he recorded his only sack of the season.

However, by Week 12, his involvement had dwindled to just four snaps in a loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

By waiving Houston, the Lions have kept the door open for him to return to the practice squad, assuming another team does not claim him.

But Campbell’s comments at the time of the announcement made it clear that a reunion was unlikely.

Houston will probably be picked up by another team and will likely finish the season elsewhere, having long been in need of a fresh start.