The Detroit Lions are snatching veteran linebacker K.J. Britt from the New England Patriots’ practice squad, a move that got fast-tracked after Sunday’s brutal game against the Minnesota Vikings. This isn’t some minor roster tweak, it’s a direct response to some serious pain for the Lions.
Linebacker Room Just Got Decimated
Sunday was an absolute nightmare for Detroit’s linebacker corps. Rookie Jimmy Rolder is unfortunately out for the season, struck down with a nasty hamstring injury. And to make things worse, Jack Campbell is still in the hospital dealing with a neck injury. While we don’t have all the specifics on Campbell’s situation right now, the team did say that initial reports were looking “positive.” Still, losing two guys like that in one game? That’s a massive hit to their defensive depth, and it means someone had to step up, fast.
Who Is Britt, And What Can Detroit Expect?
So, who exactly is K.J. Britt? He was a fifth-round draft pick back in 2021 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played 59 games for them over four seasons, even getting 15 starts under his belt. Last year, he was with the Miami Dolphins, playing in all 17 games with one start. This year, the Patriots kept him on their practice squad after he didn’t make the 53-man roster, though he did get elevated for their Week 5 clash against the Raiders. Look, for most of his time in the NFL, Britt has been a special teams ace. We’re talking 1,303 special teams snaps versus 994 on defense across a little over five seasons. He’s logged over 250 special teams snaps in four of his first five years, so yeah, expect him to be a force there early on for Detroit.
Detroit’s already got Malcolm Rodriguez, Derrick Barnes, and Trevor Nowaske probably taking on more defensive snaps, with Amen Ogbongbemiga and Joe Bachie potentially mixing in. What they desperately need right now is experienced depth on special teams and reliable reserves on defense, and Britt fits that bill. He’s known as a high-effort guy and was even a captain at Auburn. Former Bucs coach Bruce Arians nailed it back in 2021, saying Britt “looks like a football player, he walks like one, he talks like one. He’s a captain.” Plus, Detroit should know him well, as he overlapped with their current defensive line coach, Kacy Rodgers, for his entire tenure with the Buccaneers. This isn’t a shot in the dark; they know what they’re getting.
This isn’t a flashy move, but it’s a critical one for Detroit. They needed help, and they went out and got a player with a proven track record on special teams and experience to provide immediate depth. It’s all about patching those sudden holes after a brutal Sunday.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pride of Detroit.
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