ALLEN PARK — Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes is not wasting any time to start filling the team’s open roster spots.
ESPN reports the Lions plan to sign safety and standout special teamer Daniel Thomas on Wednesday. The Jacksonville Jaguars released Thomas with their initial roster cuts to meet the 53-player limit, and the five-year veteran quickly found a new home in Detroit.
The Lions have their one-two punch at the top of the safety rotation locked in place. Brian Branch and All-Pro Kerby Joseph are two of the best in the game. But when they announced their initial 50-man roster on Tuesday, there were no true safeties behind them on the depth chart.
Detroit waived safeties Ian Kennelly and Loren Strickland, the top two in-house options to spell Branch and Joseph. Veteran cornerback Rock Ya-Sin has been working more at safety recently and seems primed to offer depth there, while Avonte Maddox also brought some experience back deep.
But each Ya-Sin and Maddox have played the vast majority of their careers from the cornerback or the nickelback position.
Thomas was a fifth-round pick out of Auburn for the Jaguars in 2020. He’s played double-digit games in each of his five seasons in the league, with only two starts on defense. He’s played 445 career defensive snaps, but no more than 34 reps at safety in each of the previous three seasons. Thomas has been a vital special teamer, though, with 1,184 snaps on that phase across the last five years. He brings depth to special teams in a variety of roles, including gunner, and adds safety depth to the defense.
Thomas has 71 tackles, one interception and one fumble recovery since entering the NFL. The 27-year-old safety reportedly lost his spot in Jacksonville due to the emergence of Jaguars rookie defensive back Rayuan Lane.
With Thomas’ addition, the Lions still have three roster spots to fill after trading veteran wide receiver Tim Patrick to the Jaguars for a 2026 sixth-round pick. Expect more moves as a busy week around the NFL continues.
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