The Detroit Lions made a minor move on Monday, signing safety Jalen Mills to their practice squad. He takes up the vacant spot on the 16-man squad after the Lions signed Levi Onwuzurike to the 53-man roster over the weekend.
Mills’ signing is a direct reaction to the Lions’ losing starting safety Avonte Maddox for the entire season due to a foot injury that will require surgery. On Monday afternoon, Lions coach Dan Campbell noted that the team was in the market for a veteran safety—and possibly more.
“We had a workout this morning just looking for a veteran guy,” Campbell said. “And then we’re looking for some of these safeties that are on other teams right now that are promising young players that we could potentially poach and bring in and let them compete.”
As of the release of Monday’s transaction wire, the Lions had not made any additional moves in their secondary.
Mills, 32, will now be entering his 11th NFL season, starting first as a seventh-round pick of the PHiladelphia Eagles back in 2016. Over the course of the next decade, Mills would start 92 games, make 122 game appearances, and play for five different teams, including the Lions last year. Detroit picked Mills up on waivers after Brian Branch’s injury, and the veteran ended up playing three games for the Lions down the stretch.
Though Mills entered the league as a cornerback, he’s been playing at either nickel or safety since 2023. He’s a willing run defender and plays with some swagger.
Mills will have to work his way into the lineup. For now, it appears Detroit will move forward with Chuck Clark, Thomas Harper, and Christian Izien as their three safety options on the 53-man roster.
