The Detroit Lions are seriously feeling the crunch in their secondary, and they just made a familiar move to try and plug the holes, elevating veteran safety Jalen Mills from the practice squad for the third straight week. It’s a clear signal of just how desperate they are right now, with a key Sunday afternoon game against the Arizona Cardinals looming.
Desperate Times, Desperate Measures
Mills’ repeated elevations aren’t just a coincidence, they’re a direct result of the Lions’ banged-up secondary. They’ve got Avonte Maddox on IR, Thomas Harper also on IR, and Brian Branch on PUP, leaving them significantly shorthanded. Mills didn’t even see the field on his first elevation, but last week against the Carolina Panthers, he did get four defensive snaps and seven special teams snaps. It wasn’t a huge workload, but it showed he’s at least getting his feet wet.
This Is It For Mills
The stakes are incredibly high for Mills this Sunday. Lions coach Dan Campbell said Mills is likely to get more playing time against the Cardinals, noting on Wednesday, “I can see both those guys taking on a bigger role,” referring to Mills and Keith Abney. This isn’t just about getting some reps, though. This is Mills’ third and final practice squad elevation allowed. If the Lions want him to play another snap after this weekend, they’ll have to sign him to their 53-man roster. It’s a real do-or-die moment for the veteran.
What’s Next for Detroit’s Secondary?
Detroit has a bye next week, which gives them a little breathing room to figure things out. Plus, they’re clearly expecting Pro Bowl safety Brian Branch to be ready for their Week 7 showdown against the Green Bay Packers. That’s huge for their secondary. So, it’s possible they might just keep Mills on the practice squad through the bye, letting him go if Branch returns as expected. But here’s the kicker: if Mills goes out there against the Cardinals and absolutely makes some noise, he could force the Lions’ hand. Their struggles at the position are real, and a standout performance could be his ticket onto that 53-man roster, whether Branch is back or not. It’ll be a fascinating watch on Sunday to see what he does with this last opportunity.
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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