GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The Detroit Lions continue to work the wires to try to shore up their battered defense.
The team announced it has signed three players off of other practice squads and signed former All-Pro defensive back Jamal Adams to its practice squad, with a plan to promote him soon.
The Lions brought in defensive tackle Myles Adams from Seattle, versatile defensive lineman Jonah Williams from the Los Angeles Rams and linebacker Kwon Alexander from Denver.
They are expected to help cover gaps left by Malcolm Rodriguez and Mekhi Wingo, who were both placed on injured reserve for injuries suffered during the Lions’ 23-20 win over Chicago on Thanksgiving Day. Wingo and Rodriguez will miss the rest of the season. Rodriguez tore his ACL, and Wingo, who managed to play 14 snaps on Thursday despite being “in a lot of pain,” will also need surgery to correct an undisclosed knee injury.
The injuries to Wingo and Rodriguez mean eight players from the Detroit front seven have now been lost to injury, joining Aidan Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport, John Cominsky, Kyle Peko, Alex Anzalone and Derrick Barnes.
Alexander could be called on to step into a big role quickly. The veteran does have some experience with defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. He played seven games under Glenn in New Orleans in 2020.
Alexander is in the middle of his 10th professional season. He made the Pro Bowl in his third year in the league in 2017 but has bounced around to several teams over the last four years. He has played in three games this season for Denver, recording eight tackles and a forced fumble.
Williams is in his fourth pro season. He signed with Los Angeles as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He has played in 46 games in that time, including five games this season, recording three tackles.
Like Williams, Myles Adams is also in his fourth year after going undrafted in 2020. He has played in 26 games, including two this year, racking up five tackles.
Jamal Adams is arguably the most intriguing addition. The safety has made three Pro Bowls and was named All-Pro in 2019 with the New York Jets, but injuries have severely limited his play over the last three years. He has appeared in just 13 games since the start of the 2022 season, including three with Tennessee earlier this year before being granted his release. He played just 20 snaps on defense and made four tackles.
Players signed off of another team’s practice squad are guaranteed three weeks of salary and will count against the team’s 53-man roster for at least three weeks, regardless of whether they are released before that time.
The race for the NFC North remains tight despite the Lions’ 10-game win streak. Detroit (11-1) is one game ahead of the Vikings (10-2) and two games up on Green Bay (9-3). The Lions will host the Packers on Thursday Night Football this week. Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. The game will be broadcast on Amazon Prime Video.
