Allen Park — Dealing with a number of injuries in the secondary, the Detroit Lions have made a couple of recent additions at the position group, inking veteran Kendall Fuller to their practice squad and adding Jammie Robinson to their 53-man roster.
Robinson, a 2023 fifth-rounder by the Carolina Panthers who was previously on the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad, has been on general manager Brad Holmes’ radar for some time. Robinson has versatility at nickel or safety, but head coach Dan Campbell expects him to “probably” begin working at safety in Detroit.
“Brad’s kept an eye on him for a while, always kind of tracked where he’s at, when he’s been available,” Campbell said Thursday. “To be able to poach him and get him for a few weeks here, it’ll be good to get a look at him. … He’s aggressive, pretty tough kid, can play special teams. … We’ll get a peek at him.”
As for Fuller, it’s to be determined whether he’s part of Detroit’s game plan for Monday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If the Lions want him available for the contest, he’d likely be one of their temporary elevations from the practice squad. Teams are allowed to temporarily elevate two players per game.
“This will be our first day with him at practice. We know what he’s been able to do in this league, he’s a veteran player that has played a lot of football,” Campbell said of Fuller, who has more than 100 starts in his career. “He’s got some banked reps on him. He’s kind of like Jammie; we’ll get eyes on him and see what he looks like. Is there a potential to take him? I can’t answer that right now. But at least it gives us another veteran guy we can look at.”
Cornerback D.J. Reed (hamstring) remains on injured reserve, and fellow CBs Terrion Arnold (shoulder) and Avonte Maddox (hamstring) aren’t expected to play against the Bucs. The Lions will also be down Brian Branch, who had his one-game suspension upheld Wednesday evening.
Strickland back on the practice squad
The Lions brought back safety Loren Strickland on Thursday, signing the second-year defensive back to their practice squad after waiving him from the 53-man roster Tuesday.
Strickland originally signed with the Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2024. He made Detroit’s initial 53-man roster and appeared in seven games as a rookie, with all of his snaps coming as a special teamer. Strickland recorded 17 reps on special teams in the Lions’ Week 5 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Defensive lineman Keith Cooper Jr. was released from the practice squad to make room for Strickland. Cooper, an undrafted free agent out of Houston, was a standout at training camp. He did not make the initial active roster, but had been on the practice squad since late August.
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