The Detroit Lions are clearly not content with their current defensive setup, bringing in a trio of defensive players for tryouts on Friday. This isn’t just a casual look; it signals that the Lions are actively searching for answers, especially with training camp pushing forward and Sunday’s practice looming.
Veteran Folorunso Fatukasi Brings Experience, But With a Catch
First up, we’ve got defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi, an absolute beast of a veteran, rocking eight years in the league with a massive 90 games played and 64 starts under his belt. That’s some serious mileage, folks, showing he knows his way around an NFL trench. The man did unfortunately miss most of his 2025 season because of a shoulder injury, which is a major bummer. But don’t let that overshadow his previous run, where he started a combined 55 games in the four seasons before that.
This dude is a wall at 6-foot-4, 318 pounds, exactly what you want in a nose tackle. And let me tell you, at his absolute peak, Fatukasi was a run-stuffing machine, pulling down some of the best PFF run defense grades in the entire league, hitting an insane 81.6 in 2019 and a stellar 80.1 in 2020! Those are elite numbers. The catch? His grades haven’t exactly been stellar lately, dropping to a 61.0 in 2023 and a rough 32.4 in 2024. That’s a huge swing, and it’s what makes this tryout so intriguing. Detroit could definitely be in the market for a nose tackle, especially with Aidan Keanaaina’s unexplained absence from Friday’s practice. Nobody’s quite sure if he’s even dealing with an injury, but the Lions are clearly exploring options.
UFL Talent and Special Teams Aces Get Their Shot
Then there are the two cornerbacks, Ryan Cooper and Anthony Kendall, both fighting for a spot. Cooper went undrafted in 2024, bounced around a handful of teams over the last two years, and then absolutely balled out last season for the UFL’s Birmingham Stallions. He put up 25 tackles, four pass breakups, and even snagged an interception in just nine games. The Stallions were hyped, even tweeting “COOPER PICKS IT ‼️🔥” back in May. The dude’s clearly got some playmaking ability, and a shot from the UFL could be exactly what Detroit needs for some fresh energy.
Kendall, an undrafted guy from 2023, spent two seasons with the Tennessee Titans. His entire rookie season, all 16 games, saw him as a core special teamer, logging 323 snaps. That’s dedication right there! Since then, he hasn’t made it back onto the field, despite stints on the Ravens practice squad and a training camp roster spot with the Browns in 2025. He was a small-school prospect from Baldwin Wallace, but he posted some decent athletic scores and production in his final college year: 15 pass breakups, three interceptions, 56 tackles, and four tackles for loss. The talent is there; he just needs the right shot.
As of Saturday morning, none of these guys have officially signed with the Lions. But you know Detroit isn’t sitting still. With a day off before Sunday’s training camp practice, the coaching staff will be evaluating everything. Will they make a move to fill those potential defensive gaps, or will these tryouts be just another part of the training camp grind? We’ll find out soon enough what moves Detroit makes to solidify their squad.
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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