The Detroit Lions made just one roster move ahead of their Sunday afternoon tilt with the Arizona Cardinals and it’s a familiar one. They have elevated veteran safety Jalen Mills from the practice squad.
This is the third straight week Mills has been elevated, while the team navigates at shorthanded secondary that still has Avonte Maddox (IR), Thomas Harper (IR), and Brian Branch (PUP) unavailable due to injury. Mills didn’t play on his first elevation, but he got four defensive snaps and seven special
teams snaps against the Carolina Panthers last week. Lions coach Dan Campbell said Mills is likely to get more playing time against the Arizona Cardinals now that he has been with the team for a few weeks.
“I think (Keith) Abney will probably help us out a little bit more here this week. So, will Mills. I can see both those guys taking on a bigger role,” Campbell said Wednesday.
With three practice squad elevations for Mills, the Lions have now hit the maximum allowed for the veteran safety. That means if they want to play him again, he will have to be signed to the 53-man roster. However, the Lions have a bye next week, and in Week 7 against the Green Bay Packers, Detroit is clearly expected Pro Bowl safety Brian Branch to be ready. So Detroit may continue to keep Mills on the practice squad. But if he takes full advantage his opportunity against the Cardinals, Mills could find his way onto the 53, given Detroit’s current struggles at the position.
