By Blessing 
Detroit Lions Bring in Nine-Year Veteran to Bolster Secondary
The Detroit Lions have added experience to their cornerback group by signing Kendall Fuller, a seasoned defensive back entering his ninth NFL season.
Ahead of their Week 7 matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit announced a series of roster changes aimed at strengthening their defense. The updated transactions include:
Signed to practice squad:
(names not listed in release)
Waived:
S Loren Strickland
Among all the moves, Fuller’s arrival stands out. A third-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Fuller has started 104 games across a career that includes stints with Washington (2016–17, 2020–23), the Kansas City Chiefs (2018–19), and most recently the Miami Dolphins.
Last season with Miami, he started 11 games, tallying 50 tackles, seven pass breakups, a fumble recovery, and earning a 66.2 PFF grade. Notably, Fuller has achieved PFF grades above 70 in nearly every season since 2017, aside from 2020 and 2024.
Fuller was released by Miami in February — a cap-saving move worth nearly $3 million — after a year marked by a couple of concussions. At 5-foot-11 and 198 pounds, he’s primarily an outside corner, a role where Detroit needs depth. The Lions’ secondary has been hit by injuries, with D.J. Reed, Terrion Arnold, and Avonte Maddox all expected to miss time against Tampa Bay.
Elsewhere, the Lions re-signed Eguakun and Smith to the practice squad after waiving them to make space for Erick Hallett, Quinton Jefferson, and Nick Whiteside.
The decision to waive Loren Strickland raised some eyebrows, considering Detroit’s thin safety group. With Brian Branch suspended and Kerby Joseph nursing a knee injury, Strickland could rejoin the squad — provided he clears waivers.