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.