The Detroit Lions are dealing with a brutal linebacker crisis, forcing General Manager Brad Holmes to make an immediate roster move. They are signing veteran linebacker K.J. Britt to their active roster, pulling him off the New England Patriots’ practice squad.
The Injury Avalanche Just Got Real
This isn’t just a routine roster shuffle, folks. This move comes less than 24 hours after Detroit’s 19-15 win over the Minnesota Vikings, a victory that left the team battered and bruised in the linebacker room. Rookie Jimmy Rolder is officially done for the entire season, with surgery a real possibility. On top of that, All-Pro Jack Campbell is still hospitalized after Sunday’s game. While the organization has shared some encouraging news about Campbell’s condition, with preliminary indications being positive, his availability is totally up in the air.
When your head coach Dan Campbell says, “We may need a little bit of help. We’re looking at everything. We’ll adjust as we go. Brad and I will get together here this afternoon, tomorrow, and figure some of this out,” you know things are serious. Holmes clearly didn’t waste any time finding that help.
Who Is K.J. Britt and What Can He Bring?
So, who is K.J. Britt, the guy the Lions are banking on in this emergency? Britt, 27, is a sixth-year NFL veteran who came into the league as a fifth-round pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2021 NFL Draft. He spent four seasons with the Bucs before heading to the Miami Dolphins in 2025. This season, he’s been chilling on the Patriots’ practice squad after signing with them in the offseason.
Don’t let the practice squad tag fool you completely, though. This dude has seen NFL action, a lot of it. He’s got 77 career regular-season games under his belt, including 16 starts, and 134 tackles to his name. He made 11 starts for Tampa Bay in 2024 and played in all 17 games with Miami last season. That’s some meaningful NFL experience for a team that desperately needs it right now. Plus, he’s a special teams contributor, which could be an immediate bonus. And check this out: Britt actually worked with current Lions defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers back in their Tampa Bay days. That familiarity could seriously speed up his transition to Detroit.
What Britt Means For Detroit’s Linebacker Room
Look, Britt isn’t walking in as the guaranteed replacement for Jack Campbell. That’s a huge ask. But he’s an experienced, available option for defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard. The Lions still have Derrick Barnes, Malcolm Rodriguez, Trevor Nowaske, Amen Ogbongbemiga, and Joe Bachie on the roster to handle linebacker duties. Britt’s arrival provides another seasoned body, especially when you consider his experience against the run and on special teams. That’s exactly what the Lions need to shore up that unit right now.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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