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Detroit Lions News & Rumors

NFL Minor Transactions: 10/22/25

October 22nd, 2025 at 7:36pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are today’s midweek minor moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Cincinnati Bengals

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Miami Dolphins

New Orleans Saints

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Designated to return from IR: QB Will Howard
  • Waived (with injury settlement): T Gareth Warren

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

While several players were designated to return from injured reserve today, Norton and Johnson’s designations took place back on 8/26, the roster cut deadline. The Texans are in danger of being without their top three receivers in Week 8. Tank Dell is already on IR, but Nico Collins and Christian Kirk’s statuses for the weekend are up in the air as Collins deals with a concussion and Kirk has been dealing with n hamstring injury.

Not that they’ve needed him, since Aaron Rodgers has looked a bit more effective than he was in his days with the Jets, but Howard is nearing a return to the roster for the remainder of his rookie season. It will be interesting to see where the sixth-rounder slots in on the depth chart as he adds another level of security behind the 41-year-old Rodgers.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/21/25

October 21st, 2025 at 8:38pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad moves:

Atlanta Falcons

  • Signed: OL Raiqwon O’Neal
  • Placed on IR: OL Ryan Hayes

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Denver Broncos

  • Signed: OL Marques Cox
  • Released: OL Karsen Barnhart

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

  • Signed: DE Seth Coleman
  • Released: CB Keenan Garber

Los Angeles Chargers

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

  • Signed: DT Fatorma Mulbah

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Tennessee Titans

Lions Inquiring About Edge Rushers

October 21st, 2025 at 1:58pm CST by Connor Byrne

The Lions acquired notable pass-rushing help before last season’s trade deadline in landing Za’Darius Smith from the Browns. A year later, the Lions could address the same area before the upcoming Nov. 4 deadline. They’re making calls for an edge rusher, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports.

The addition of Smith came a few weeks after the Lions lost elite pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson to a season-ending broken tibia. Now healthy, Hutchinson has come back this year to thrive during the Lions’ 5-2 start. The 25-year-old has racked up six sacks and four forced fumbles, and Pro Football Focus ranks his performance second among 113 qualifying defensive ends.

In addition to Hutchinson, Detroit has gotten strong work from Al-Quadin Muhammad, who already has five sacks and is just one away from tying a career high. Muhammad’s emergence has come in the absence of Marcus Davenport, on IR since Sept. 22 with a pectoral strain.

Davenport has already missed five games after missing most of the past two seasons, and with the Lions now on a bye, he could return in Week 9. It doesn’t appear that will happen, though, as head coach Dan Campbell suggested last week that Davenport probably won’t be ready until late November (via Nolan Bianchi of the Detroit News).

By the time Davenport is back in the fold, he could be part of a deeper group of rushers if general manager Brad Holmes reels in help for the second deadline in a row. While it’s unclear which players Holmes has targeted, Titans outside linebacker Arden Key could be a name to watch in Detroit’s search, according to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports.

As a soon-to-be free agent on a team that could conduct a fire sale, Key is an obvious trade candidate. Key has missed back-to-back games with a quadriceps injury and has only totaled 1.5 sacks in five contests this year, but he amassed 23.5 over the previous four seasons. If he ends up in Detroit and returns to his past production, Key would give the team another solid complement to Hutchinson.

With a $6.5MM salary and a $9.29MM cap hit, the Lions wouldn’t have trouble absorbing what’s left of Key’s contract. The team has over $25MM in cap space, which should give Holmes plenty of room to maneuver over the next couple of weeks.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/20/25

October 20th, 2025 at 6:11pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

New England Patriots

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

It didn’t take long for Arthur Maulet to earn a full-time spot on the Lions active roster. The veteran cornerback just joined the organization earlier this month, and he already had one promotion in Week 6. He’ll likely continue seeing a rotational role in Detroit’s secondary moving forward, although his addition is partly due to absences from Terrion Arnold and D.J. Reed.

The Patriots snagged a linebacker from the Chargers today. Caleb Murphy has some familiarity with Mike Vrabel, as the former Titans coach added the linebacker as an undrafted free agent back in 2023. Murphy has gotten into 14 games in stints with the Titans and Chargers, compiling 17 tackles and 0.5 sacks.

Lions DT Alim McNeill To Make Season Debut In Week 7

October 20th, 2025 at 3:52pm CST by Connor Byrne

OCTOBER 20: With no setbacks having taken place in recent days, McNeill is indeed set to make his debut tonight. The Lions have activated him from the reserve/PUP list, per a team announcement.

OCTOBER 15: After returning to practice earlier this month, Lions defensive tackle Alim McNeill is nearing his long-awaited season debut. Head coach Dan Campbell told 97.1 The Ticket on Wednesday that McNeill will suit up against the Buccaneers in Week 7 in a showdown between NFC contenders (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press).

“Barring something happening this week, Alim’s fricking playing, man,” Campbell said.

McNeill, now in his fifth season, has emerged as an integral piece of Detroit’s defensive line since the team chose him in the third round of the 2021 draft. After mostly working as a reserve as a rookie, the 6-foot-2, 310-pounder has started in all 44 appearances since his second year. McNeill totaled 25 tackles and 3.5 sacks in 14 games last season before suffering a torn ACL in a mid-December loss to the Bills.

Now 10 months removed from his injury, the 25-year-old McNeill is ready to return to action. Notably, Wednesday marks the one-year anniversary of McNeil landing a four-year, $97MM contract extension. Considering the Lions’ investment in McNeil, they may ease him back in upon his return. The Lions have a bye following their matchup with the Buccaneers, which will give McNeill a week to rest after his first game back.

Although he missed the Lions’ last three regular-season games, McNeil still led their defensive tackles in snaps in 2024. D.J. Reader has paced the group this year, while first-round rookie Tyleik Williams has received the second-most snaps. Roy Lopez, Pat O’Connor, and Tyler Lacy have also gotten a good chunk of playing time in depth roles during McNeill’s absence.

Despite going without McNeill this season, Detroit’s defense still ranks fourth in the NFL in sacks and ninth in yards per game, though it’s a middle-of-the-pack 15th in points per contest. With the 4-2 Lions looking to bounce back from a loss to the Chiefs and down a few key defenders in their secondary (D.J. Reed, Terrion Arnold, and Brian Branch if his one-game suspension holds up), McNeill will be a welcome reinforcement against the Bucs (5-1), the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/16/25

October 16th, 2025 at 6:55pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad moves:

Carolina Panthers

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

New England Patriots

Lions S Brian Branch Issued One-Game Ban

October 15th, 2025 at 8:25pm CST by Adam La Rose

OCTOBER 15: Michael Signora, the NFL’s senior vice president of football & international communications, announced on X today that Branch’s one-game suspension has been upheld. The hearing officer jointly appointed by the league and the NFL Players Association was former long-time Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson. Branch will be unavailable for Detroit’s Week 7 matchup against the Buccaneers.

OCTOBER 13, 11:06pm: Branch is indeed appealing his one-game suspension, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. However, the NFL’s language in their letter informing Branch of his suspension makes it seem unlikely that he will succeed.

“Your aggressive, non-football act was entirely unwarranted, posed a serious risk of injury, and clearly violated the standards of conduct and sportsmanship expected of NFL players,” the statement read (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press).

OCTOBER 13, 4:30pm: Brian Branch will be unavailable to the Lions in Week 7. The third-year safety was issued a one-game suspension on Monday, per a league announcement.

After last night’s Lions-Chiefs game, Branch slapped Kansas City wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster (video link). A brief skirmish ensued, leading to the expectation supplemental discipline would be handed down. The NFL reviewed the incident and issued the ban.

Branch has already been fined 13 times in his career despite only playing 41 combined regular and postseason games to date. Given his history in that regard, issuing a suspension does not entirely come as a surprise from the league’s perspective. The 2023 Pro Bowler can appeal the ban; if he does so, one of the jointly-appointed hearing officers will oversee the matter.

When speaking to reporters Sunday night, Branch admitted he should not have initiated the altercation with Smith-Schuster but added he felt the Chiefs were attempting to “bully” him during the game (video link via ESPN’s Eric Woodyard). Head coach Dan Campbell termed Branch’s actions “inexcusable,” meaning team discipline of some kind may have been forthcoming anyway.

Regardless of what happens on that front, the Lions are now set to be without a critical member of their secondary pending a successful appeal. Branch has operated as a full-time defensive starter for most of his career, and the former second-rounder recorded 109 tackles in 2024 while adding double-digit pass deflections for the second year in a row. Branch had enjoyed a productive start to his season, but he will now miss the final game before Detroit’s bye week.

The Lions’ secondary is already shorthanded with D.J. Reed on injured reserve and fellow cornerback Terrion Arnold out of the lineup as well. Branch has experience as a slot corner but his ideal position is safety, where he has formed an effective tandem with Kerby Joseph (who has himself battled injuries as well despite playing every game this season).

Detroit’s loss last night dropped the team to 4-2 on the year. The team’s secondary will face a strong test against the Buccaneers in Week 7, but that unit will be without a key figure.

NFL Minor Transactions: 10/15/25

October 15th, 2025 at 6:32pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are today’s midweek minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

New York Giants

As injuries and suspensions thin out the Lions’ secondary, Detroit is bringing in Robinson, who signed to the Chiefs’ taxi squad in the days leading up to the regular season and has yet to see any gametime this year.

With Arizona losing tight end Travis Vokolek for the rest of the season with a neck injury, Deguara gets the call to fill out the room off the practice squad.

Dimukeje has been working his way back from a torn pectoral muscle suffered in offseason workouts back in May, shortly after joining the team. He’ll have 21 days to get activated off the PUP list and debut in New York.

Lions Sign CB Kendall Fuller

October 14th, 2025 at 3:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

After facing the Chiefs with a skeleton crew at cornerback — to the point increased base defensive looks were deemed necessary — the Lions are adding an experienced piece to help.

Kendall Fuller is joining the team on a practice squad deal. This is Fuller’s first chance since the Dolphins released him in February. A veteran with extensive outside and slot experience, Fuller had joined the Dolphins on a two-year, $15MM deal in 2024 but was the first domino to fall in what has been a Miami cornerback overhaul.

The Lions played the Chiefs with only Amik Robertson healthy among their top six corners. As could be expected, Detroit struggled to contain Kansas City’s aerial attack in a 30-17 loss. The Lions have D.J. Reed and Ennis Rakestraw on IR, while Terrion Arnold and Avonte Maddox remain on the active roster. Rock Ya-Sin, who had moved to safety this offseason but offered positional versatility based on his CB past, needed to be used as a full-timer Sunday night. Arnold is not believed to be out too long, but he might not be ready for Week 7.

Fuller, 30, joins the Lions after they had offered Michael Davis a spot on their practice squad last week. Davis joined the Saints’ active roster instead. After auditioning for the Colts last week, Fuller has that gig.

Considering Detroit’s depth problem at the position right now, Fuller could see game action soon. The Lions have an interesting Buccaneers matchup ahead, with Tampa Bay somehow even more depleted at receiver — down Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan, Mike Evans and Emeka Egbuka — than Detroit is at corner. It is not certain Evans and Egbuka miss that game, but the other two are set to.

The Dolphins used Fuller as a full-timer last season, continuing his run as a regular starter during a career previously spent in Washington and Kansas City. Being part of the Alex Smith trade in 2018, Fuller started for the Super Bowl LIV-winning Chiefs in 2019 before returning to Washington on a four-year, $40MM deal. Fuller played out that contract and impressed during his 2023 platform year, though his Dolphins pact came in short of where most envisioned. We ranked Fuller 19th on our 2024 top 50 free agent list.

Last season, Fuller played 11 games. Two concussions sidelined the nine-year veteran, who also sustained a knee injury last year. Fuller was one of the top unsigned CBs, though, having logged 104 career starts. Pro Football Focus viewed Fuller as a mid-pack CB last season, ranking him 75th among regulars at the position. Before his quality Commanders contract year, the 5-foot-11 cover man nabbed two pick-sixes in 2022.

The Lions also waived safety Loren Strickland from their 53-man roster while signing offensive lineman Kingsley Eguakun and defensive lineman Chris Smith back to their P-squad.

Eagles DE Za’Darius Smith Retires

October 13th, 2025 at 11:26am CST by Adam La Rose

Za’Darius Smith has taken part in five of the Eagles’ six games this season, but his time with Philadelphia is abruptly coming to an end. The veteran pass rush announced on Instagram Monday that he is retiring.

“Who would’ve thought that a kid from Greenville, Alabama, with just one year of high school football experience, would go on to play professional football in the NFL for 11 incredible years,” Smith’s announcement reads in part. “Football has transformed my life and my family’s lives forever – and for that, I’m forever grateful.”

Smith has served as a starter for much of his career, and he notched four sacks upon arriving via trade in Detroit last season. In spite of that, the three-time Pro Bowler remained unsigned through training camp. One day after opening the campaign, the Eagles signed Smith to a one-year deal. He has played in all five of the team’s games since then, logging a 38% snap share.

Today’s announcement comes as quite the surprise as a result, as Smith was in position to continue handling a rotational role with his latest team. Instead, his NFL career has come to an end. This decision is a personal one and not tied to his playing time in Philadelphia, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. Nevertheless, an Eagles team which entered the campaign with questions about pass rush production will be shorthanded moving forward. This news could steer the team toward a trade for an edge rusher in the near future.

Smith entered the league as a fourth-round pick of the Ravens in 2015. He flashed potential with 5.5 sacks as a rookie, and after developing into a regular on defense posted 8.5 sacks in the final year of his rookie contract. That resulted in a big-ticket free agent deal with the Packers, the first of three NFC North teams Smith wound up playing for in his career.

Following his 2022 release from Green Bay, Smith seemed to have a Ravens reunion lined up. In the end, however, he signed with the Vikings. That did not lead to a lengthy tenure in Minnesota, as the Kentucky alum was traded to the Browns after one season. Smith was limited to just one game in 2021, but across his healthy campaigns with Green Bay and Minnesota he amassed 36 sacks. Expectations remained high for continued production with the Browns.

Smith was unable to establish himself as a long-term complement to Myles Garrett with a downturn in sack totals during his one full Cleveland campaign. After Aidan Hutchinson suffered a season-ending injury last year, Smith was named as a candidate to be dealt to the Lions. That took place as expected, and during this past offseason Smith remained in contact with Detroit even after being released in a cost-shedding move.

With no deal being worked out on that front, though, Smith eventually took a pact with the Eagles. The defending Super Bowl champions have lost two straight but they sit at 4-2 on the year and could again find themselves in contention for a deep postseason run in 2025. The team’s plans ahead of the deadline could now include the pursuit of a Smith replacement.

Smith will now turn his attention to his post-playing days at the age of 33. He exits the NFL with 154 combined regular and postseason appearances and nearly $91MM in career earnings.

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