According to a report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Detroit Lions will be working out a group of defensive backs when the team reconvenes from their extended break on Monday. Fowler doesn’t have an exhaustive list of those players, but it will include two known names: Jordan Fuller and Jalen Mills.
Lions general manager Brad Holmes is likely very familiar with Fuller, as he was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, when Holmes served as the Rams’ director of college scouting. Fuller would start 12 games his rookie season at safety, logging three interceptions and five passes defended. He continued to be a full-time starter in 2021, but a hamstring injury held him out of the majority of 2022. After another 17 games started in 2023, he ended up signing with the Panthers on a one-year, $3.25 million deal. Another hamstring injury sidelined him for about half of that season. And last year, he played just six games with the Falcons.
While Fuller has dealt with a lot of injuries in his career, he’s an aggressive player that doesn’t mind getting active in the run game. He’s posted a PFF run defense grade above 68 in every year of his career, but he’s been comfortable playing both in the box and as the deep safety.
Jalen Mills may sound familiar, because he was with the Lions briefly last season. The 32-year-old safety joined the Lions off waivers in December after Brian Branch suffered his Achilles injury, and he played 65 defensive snaps for the Lions over the final two games of the season.
The Lions searching for defensive backs could mean two things. For one, it could be a response to Avonte Maddox’s injury. The Lions’ veteran safety left Thursday’s game early with a foot injury, and he did not return. While coach Dan Campbell didn’t have a definitive update on Maddox after the game, he was not optimistic about the outlook of his injury.
“I don’t know. Maddox is pretty tough, so when he doesn’t come back, that makes me nervous,” Campbell said. “But I won’t know until tomorrow for sure.”
Detroit may also be in the defensive back market because their play in the secondary has been troublesome through two games. Saints quarterback Tyler Shough threw for 410 yards in Week 1 against the Lions, and Bills quarterback Josh Allen through for 248 yards and three touchdowns on Thursday.
One other thing to keep in mind: Lions safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph started the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list. They cannot play until Week 5 at the earliest, but they can return to practice this week, if ready.
We should have more clarity on this situation Monday, when Campbell is expected to speak with the media.