Lions Sign CB Kendall Fuller
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.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/11/25
Here are the minor moves and standard gameday practice squad elevations heading into the sixth Sunday of the NFL season:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed to active roster: DT C.J. Okoye
- Elevated: QB Tyler Huntley, S Keondre Jackson
- Waived: S Reuben Lowery
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: CB Keion Crossen, G Brandon Walton
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: G Jaxson Kirkland
Cleveland Browns
- Elevated: CB Tre Avery
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed to active roster: WR Jalen Cropper
- Elevated: WR Parris Campbell
- Placed on IR: RB Miles Sanders (story)
Detroit Lions
- Signed to active roster: S Erick Hallett, DT Quinton Jefferson, CB Nick Whiteside
- Elevated: T Devin Cochran, CB Arthur Maulet
- Placed on IR: T Giovanni Manu (story)
- Waived: C Kingsley Eguakun, DT Chris Smith
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: RB Ameer Abdullah, CB Cameron Mitchell
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated: CB A.J. Green, LB Elias Neal
Miami Dolphins
- Elevated: LB Quinton Bell, CB Isaiah Johnson
New England Patriots
- Elevated: RB Terrell Jennings, DE Truman Jones
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: LB Nephi Sewell
New York Jets
- Elevated: WR Brandon Smith, WR Isaiah Williams
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed to active roster: WR Ke’Shawn Williams
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: CB Shaquill Griffin, S Jerrick Reed II
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: RB Owen Wright
Tennessee Titans
- Signed to active roster: TE Thomas Odukoya
- Elevated: LB Curtis Jacobs, K Matthew Wright
- Waived: T John Ojukwu
Manu was ruled out for this week with a knee injury after making the first start of his career with Detroit. Unfortunately, he’ll miss the team’s next three games, as well, after being placed on injured reserve.
Wright will fill in as placekicker for the Titans in Week 6. Regular kicker Joey Slye has been ruled out with a calf injury after missing practice all week.
Avery in Cleveland and Walton in Carolina are both being called up as standard gameday practice squad elevations for the third time this year. If either of their respective teams want them to be active for another game, they will need to sign them to the 53-man roster.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/20/25
Here are the latest reserve/futures deals from around the league:
Detroit Lions
- LB Abraham Beauplan
- C Kingsley Eguakun
- QB Jake Fromm
- LB Daron Gilbert
- S Erick Hallett
- OT Jamarco Jones
- WR Tom Kennedy
- DT Chris Smith
- S Loren Strickland
- CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver
- DE Isaac Ukwu
Houston Texans
- RB J.J. Taylor
Los Angeles Rams
- OL AJ Arcuri
- WR Quintez Cephus
- ILB Tony Fields II
- CB A.J. Green
- DT Jack Heflin
- S Tanner Ingle
- CB Shaun Jolly
- CB Cam Lampkin
- ILB Elias Neal
- DT David Olajiga
- WR Drake Stoops
- OLB Keir Thomas
- CB Charles Woods
Pittsburgh Steelers
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/18/25
Saturday’s minor moves, including stand gameday practices squad elevations for the weekend’s remaining divisional playoff games:
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: WR Anthony Miller, NT Josh Tupou
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: OL Will Clapp, WR Jalen Virgil
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: DL Chris Smith, CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated: T AJ Arcuri, OLB Keir Thomas
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: FB Khari Blasingame, LB Nicholas Morrow
Washington Commanders
- Activated from IR: TE Colson Yankoff
- Elevated: DE Andre Jones Jr., CB Kevon Seymour
- Placed on IR: LB Jordan Magee
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/4/25
The last minor moves and standard gameday elevations of the 2024 NFL regular season:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed to active roster: S Andre Chachere
- Elevated: RB Tony Jones Jr., T Luke Tenuta
- Placed on IR: T Jackson Barton
Atlanta Falcons
- Elevated: CB Lamar Jackson
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: OL Will Clapp, DE Casey Toohill
Carolina Panthers
- Activated from IR: RB Miles Sanders (story)
- Placed on IR: LB Amaré Barno
- Signed to active roster: DE DeShawn Williams
- Elevated: OLB Thomas Incoom, OLB Kenny Dyson
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: DT Domenique Davis, WR Kendric Pryor
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed to active roster: QB Will Grier
- Elevated: CB Troy Pride
- Placed on IR: CB Kemon Hall
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: DE Matt Henningsen
Detroit Lions
- Signed to active roster: DB Morice Norris
- Elevated: DL Chris Smith, CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver
Houston Texans
- Signed to active roster: CB D’Angelo Ross
- Elevated: DE Solomon Byrd, S Russ Yeast
- Placed on IR: LB Jamal Hill
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: DE Joe Gaziano
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: LB Blake Lynch, QB Chris Oladokun
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevated: TE John Samuel Shenker
Los Angeles Chargers
- Activated from IR: S Alohi Gilman (story)
- Elevated: WR Dez Fitzpatrick, S Eddie Jackson
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated: T AJ Arcuri, OLB Keir Thomas
Miami Dolphins
- Elevated: T Ryan Hayes, QB Skylar Thompson
Minnesota Vikings
- Elevated: LB Calvin Munson, OLB Gabriel Murphy
New England Patriots
- Signed to active roster: CB Miles Battle, DE Truman Jones, LB Monty Rice, TE Jack Westover
- Elevated: WR Alex Erickson, TE Mitchell Wilcox
- Placed on IR: C Ben Brown, S Jabrill Peppers, WR Ja’Lynn Polk
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: S Millard Bradford, RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire
New York Giants
- Signed to active roster: RB Dante Miller
- Elevated: OLB Boogie Basham, T Tyre Phillips
New York Jets
- Placed on IR: CB Sauce Gardner
- Signed to active roster: DL Bruce Hector
- Elevated: CB Tre Swilling, OL Zack Bailey
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed to active roster: DE Alex Barrett, LB DaShaun White
- Elevations: G Drake Nugent, WR Trent Taylor
- Placed on IR: G Spencer Burford, LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed to active roster: CB Artie Burns, NT Brandon Pili
- Elevated: DT Quinton Bohanna, TE Tyler Mabry
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: CB Dallis Flowers, LB Deion Jones
Tennessee Titans
- Signed to active roster: DE Khalid Duke, WR Tay Martin
- Elevated: S Gervarrius Owens, K Matthew Wright
- Placed on IR: LB Otis Reese
Ross’ new deal to the Texans’ 53-man roster is good through the 2025 season, as well. Ditto for Jones, signed to the active roster in New England today.
Sanders returned to practice this week, and his activation will allow him to close out his second Panthers season on the field rather than on the mend. His Carolina tenure has fallen well short of expectations and a release in the near future could be in the cards. Given the team’s backfield injuries, though, Sanders could handle a notable workload tomorrow while potentially auditioning for free agent suitors.
Gilman’s return will be welcomed by the Chargers’ defense. The 27-year-old has remained a full-time starter this season, his second straight handling first-team duties. Los Angeles is assured of a wild-card spot, but moving up to the No. 5 seed in the AFC playoff picture could be possible on Sunday. In any case, Gilman’s presence will be key for a Bolts defense which leads the league in points allowed per game (17.6).
Gardner’s campaign will come to an end after 15 games played. He fell short of a Pro Bowl nod for this first time in his young career, but the fourth pick of the 2022 draft remained a critical member of the team’s secondary when healthy. Gardner is eligible for an extension this offseason, and his financial future (which will include a fifth-year option decision in the spring) will be a key point of focus once New York’s head coach/general manager tandem is in place.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/30/24
Monday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Claimed off waivers (from Buccaneers): LB Vi Jones
- Placed on IR: S Joey Blount
Baltimore Ravens
- Designated to return from IR: TE Charlie Kolar
Detroit Lions
- Activated from IR: LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin
- Elevated: RB Jermar Jefferson, DE Chris Smith
New York Jets
- Claimed off waivers (from Vikings): LB Jamin Davis
- Waived: K Anders Carlson
- Placed on IR: S Chuck Clark
San Francisco 49ers
- Activated from IR: LB Tatum Bethune
- Claimed off waivers (from Titans): CB Tre Avery
- Elevated: DE Alex Barrett, G Drake Nugent
- Placed on IR: G Aaron Banks
Tennessee Titans
- Waived: K Matthew Wright
By claiming Jones, the Cardinals reunite him with his brother, wide receiver Zay Jones, for the final week of the regular season.
The Ravens are looking to return their third tight end to the fold after Kolar broke his arm a month ago. When ready, he’ll be back to close out the regular season and prepare for the playoffs behind Baltimore’s other two strong tight ends.
The Jets will be finishing the season without their starting safety in Clark. Clark, who battled back from injury earlier this season, was placed on injured reserve for an undisclosed reason today.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/25/24
Here are the NFL’s practice squad moves from Christmas Day:
Detroit Lions
- Signed: DE Chris Smith
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/23/24
Today’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Claimed on waivers (from Texans): WR Steven Sims
Carolina Panthers
- Waived: DE Jonathan Harris
Chicago Bears
- Placed on IR: LT Braxton Jones (story)
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed to active roster: DE Isaiah Thomas
- Waived: QB Logan Woodside
Detroit Lions
- Waived: DE Chris Smith
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted: S Omar Brown
Houston Texans
- Placed on IR: WR Tank Dell (story), S Jimmie Ward (story)
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived: G Atonio Mafi
Kansas City Chiefs
- Placed on IR: LB Jack Cochrane
- Designated for return: TE Peyton Hendershot
Tennessee Titans
- Activated from IR: OT Jaelyn Duncan
- Waived: K Brayden Narveson
The Titans’ decision to move on from Brayden Narveson comes as a bit of a surprise following this weekend’s roster machinations. The organization didn’t only promote the kicker from the practice squad…they also signed him through the 2025 campaign. With Nick Folk apparently approaching full health, the Titans have decided to stick with the veteran and move on from his fill-in.
Narveson’s stint with the Titans featured only a single appearance, when he missed his lone field goal attempt and converted two extra points in yesterday’s loss. Narveson spent the beginning of the season in Green Bay, where he converted 12 of his 17 field goal attempts.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/21/24
Today’s minor transactions and standard gameday practice squad elevations:
Arizona Cardinals
- Elevated: T Jackson Barton, RB Michael Carter
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed to active roster: WR Chris Blair
- Elevated: WR Dylan Drummond
- Waived: LB Rashaan Evans
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: S Kareem Jackson, WR Jalen Virgil
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: RB Mike Boone, T Brandon Walton
Chicago Bears
- Signed to active roster: RB Darrynton Evans
- Placed on IR: G Ryan Bates
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: DE Isaiah Thomas
Cleveland Browns
- Elevated: CB Kahlef Hailassie, WR James Proche
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed to active roster: CB Andrew Booth
- Elevated: LB Darius Harris, T Dakoda Shepley
- Placed on IR: CB Trevon Diggs (story)
Detroit Lions
- Activated from IR: S Ifeatu Melifonwu
- Signed to active roster: OLB Mitchell Agude, WR Tom Kennedy, DL Chris Smith
- Elevated: RB Jermar Jefferson, S Loren Strickland
- Waived (via injury settlement): DT David Bada
- Waived: WR Maurice Alexander
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed to active roster: CB Kyu Blu Kelly
- Elevated: TE John Samuel Shenker
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated: CB Charles Woods
Miami Dolphins
- Activated from reserve/PUP: LB Cameron Goode
- Elevated: WR Erik Ezukanma
- Waived: DT Neil Farrell
Minnesota Vikings
- Elevated: S Bobby McCain, TE Nick Muse
New England Patriots
- Signed to active roster: RB Terrell Jennings
- Elevated: WR Alex Erickson, LB Monty Rice
New York Giants
- Signed to active roster: DB Raheem Layne
- Elevated: OLB Boogie Basham, T Tyre Phillips
New York Jets
- Elevated: DT Bruce Hector, S Jarius Monroe
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: FB Khari Blasingame
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed to active roster: LB Jalen Graham, T Austen Pleasants
- Elevated: DT Alex Barrett, RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn
- Waived: T Sebastian Gutierrez
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed to active roster: QB Jaren Hall
- Elevated: CB Artie Burns
- Placed on IR: OLB Trevis Gipson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: P Jack Browning
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: DT Carl Davis
After being activated from injured reserve in early November, Bates only played two games before suffering a concussion. The 27-year-old has not played since Week 11 and will now miss the remainder of the season on IR. Bates is under contract through 2025.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/4/24
Here are Monday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: DB Darren Hall
Detroit Lions
- Waived: LB Abraham Beauplan, DL Chris Smith
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: WR Justyn Ross
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: WR Marquez Callaway, LB Vi Jones
For one game, at least, the Buccaneers have the Chiefs outflanked in the wide receiver injury department. Chris Godwin is out until at least the playoffs, should Tampa Bay qualify, and Mike Evans is expected to miss at least two more games due to the hamstring injury he suffered. The team endured another blow recently, with third-round rookie Jalen McMillan sustaining a hamstring injury during a Friday practice. A former Saints regular, Callaway has not played in a game this season.