The Detroit Lions made several roster moves on Thursday as they continue preparing for Monday night’s matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
According to the team’s official announcement, Detroit signed safety Jammie Robinsonto the active roster from the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad. Robinson, a 2023 fifth-round pick out of Florida State, spent time with the Carolina Panthers before joining Kansas City’s practice unit. His addition provides much-needed depth at safety with Brian Branchsuspended and Kerby Joseph still battling a knee injury.
The Lions also released defensive lineman Keith Cooper from the practice squad and re-signed safety Loren Strickland to the same unit. Strickland was waived earlier in the week but returns as insurance in Detroit’s secondary rotation.
With these moves, the Lions are reinforcing their defensive backfield ahead of a crucial Monday Night Football showdown at Ford Field, where the defense will look to bounce back after a penalty-laden loss to the Chiefs.
Detroit’s front office continues to stay active, clearly determined to keep the roster flexible and ready as the team pushes deeper into the season.
The Detroit Lions spent their Tuesday making a few quiet but intriguing roster moves as they prepare for Monday night’s primetime matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
While the team typically rests on Tuesdays, the schedule shifted this week because of the Monday night game, and Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell used that time to tweak the depth chart, just a little.
The biggest move came when the Lions waived safety Loren Strickland from the active roster. No immediate replacement was announced, which could be a sign that one of Detroit’s key defenders, Alim McNeill, is ready to return from injury.
Campbell hinted at that possibility earlier in the week, saying the team was “hopeful” McNeill would be activated soon. His presence would be a huge boost for a defensive line that’s been patching things together over the last few weeks.
Two Familiar Faces Return to the Practice Squad
Detroit also welcomed back a pair of players it recently waived: defensive tackle Chris Smith and offensive lineman Kingsley Eguakun. Both cleared waivers and are now back with the Lions on the practice squad.
Smith and Eguakun have been part of Detroit’s depth rotation throughout the year and provide valuable flexibility as injuries continue to test the roster. Bringing them back makes sense, they know the system, they’re coachable, and they’ve already earned the staff’s trust.
Campbell often talks about wanting “gritty” players who can step in and do their jobs without needing extra time to get up to speed. Smith and Eguakun fit that mold perfectly.
Veteran Cornerback Kendall Fuller Joins the Fold
The Lions didn’t stop there. They added a familiar NFL name to their practice squad: veteran cornerback Kendall Fuller.
Fuller, who is a former Super Bowl champion, brings a wealth of experience and could be a sneaky addition to a secondary that’s been battling injuries. Originally a third-round pick by Washington in 2016, Fuller has played eight seasons in the league, six with Washington, two with Kansas City, and most recently spent time with the Miami Dolphins.
If he can stay on the field, Fuller gives Detroit a seasoned veteran presence who can step in if injuries strike again in the defensive backfield.
The Big Picture
The Lions are 4–2 heading into their Monday night showdown with Tampa Bay, and these small roster tweaks show a front office that’s staying flexible, forward-thinking, and prepared for the long haul.
Detroit’s depth has already been tested this year, but with smart moves like these, and the potential return of Alim McNeill, the team’s overall roster health is trending in the right direction.
As Dan Campbell likes to say, it’s all about “stacking good days.” And on Tuesday, the Lions quietly stacked another one.
The team announced that cornerback D.J. Reed has been placed on Reserve/Injured, a tough blow after the veteran was playing some of his best football before going down. Reed will now be sidelined for at least four weeks.
To fill spots on the active roster, Detroit promoted safety Loren Strickland and linebacker Ty Summers from the practice squad. Summers, a familiar face who impressed in preseason last year, rejoined the Lions earlier this week and now gets a chance to contribute on Sundays.
Meanwhile, the Lions added reinforcements at cornerback, signing Tre Flowers and Nick Whiteside to the practice squad. Flowers is a veteran with nearly 100 NFL games under his belt, while Whiteside brings developmental upside as Detroit looks to stabilize its depth chart.
With injuries piling up in the secondary, head coach Dan Campbell and GM Brad Holmes are making moves to ensure the Lions don’t lose momentum as they head into a critical stretch of the season.