The Detroit Lions took a brutal hit to their defense this week, with linebacker Jimmy Rolder officially out for the season after suffering a hamstring injury during Sunday’s win over the Vikings. He’s now on the injured reserve list, a tough break for the team.
A Double Whammy at Linebacker
This isn’t just about Rolder. The guy went down on the *exact same play* that fellow linebacker Jack Campbell suffered a neck injury. Campbell has been hospitalized since Sunday, which is just a wild turn of events for the Lions’ linebacker room. Rolder, a fourth-round pick, had put up 11 tackles and a sack in his five regular season appearances, so this is a real loss for their early season depth.
Roster Shuffle and Quick Exits
Lions head coach Dan Campbell moved fast to fill the void, announcing they’re signing linebacker K.J. Britt off the Patriots’ practice squad. But that wasn’t the only move. They also waived defensive back Bishop Fitzgerald on Tuesday. Fitzgerald was a practice squad pickup from the Steelers back in September, but he never even saw game action for the Lions before getting cut. They still have another open roster spot at their disposal, so clearly, Detroit isn’t done adjusting.
With one linebacker on IR for the season, another hospitalized, and a defensive back waived just months after joining the squad, the Lions are clearly in a period of significant roster adjustment. It is a fluid situation for the Lions as they navigate these personnel changes and look to fill their remaining open roster spot. Keep an eye on Detroit’s locker room as they adjust.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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