By Moses Joshua 
Detroit reshuffles its depth chart as playoff pressure intensifies
As the Detroit Lions battle through the final and most demanding stretch of the regular season, the team has wasted no time reshaping its roster. This week brought another unexpected move, as the Lions parted ways with a young tight end who had barely settled into the building.
A Swift Exit: Detroit Moves On From Hayden Rucci
Detroit’s ongoing adjustments at tight end continued on Wednesday, when the team waived 24-year-old Hayden Rucci just one week after claiming him off waivers from the Miami Dolphins. Though Rucci offered short-term depth, he never saw the field in last week’s victory over the Dallas Cowboys and played exclusively on special teams during his four appearances with Miami earlier this season.
Rucci’s release follows the team’s decision to move on from veteran Ross Dwelley days earlier. In both cases, the Lions cut ties with tight ends to free up roster spots for defensive reinforcements—an indication of how seriously Detroit is treating its late-season injury issues and postseason ambitions.
The midseason shakeup has left the position noticeably thin. As SI.com’s John Maakaron pointed out at the time of Dwelley’s release, “The decision leaves Anthony Firkser and Hayden Rucci as the only tight ends on the 53-man active roster,” with Giovanni Ricci on the practice squad and Shane Zylstra dealing with a lingering knee issue.
Complicating matters further, the Lions are still adjusting to life without star tight end Sam LaPorta, whose season-ending injury removed one of Jared Goff’s most reliable weapons and one of the offense’s most dynamic playmakers.
Why Detroit Is Prioritizing Defense Over Tight End Depth
While the tight end room is undeniably depleted, Detroit has been far more urgent in addressing the injuries plaguing its secondary. The Lions not only added cornerback Arthur Maulet last week, but followed that up by claiming safety Jalen Mills after his release from the Houston Texans.
Detroit Free Press reporter Dave Birkett detailed why the move was necessary, noting that Mills arrives “to a Lions’ defense that’s shuffled starters in its secondary all year and will play the rest of the season without starting safety Brian Branch and second-year cornerback Terrion Arnold.” Branch recently underwent surgery to repair a torn Achilles, while Arnold announced he will soon undergo shoulder surgery.
Those losses left Detroit scrambling for stability in the defensive backfield—especially with the Rams and Matthew Stafford looming on Sunday.
But there is a glimmer of good news. Birkett added that “Pro Bowl safety Kerby Joseph hasn’t played in two months because of knee pain, but practiced Wednesday and could return for Sunday’s game.” Backup safety Thomas Harper has also resumed limited work after recovering from a brain injury.
What Comes Next for Detroit’s Tight End Room
With Rucci now gone, the Lions will almost certainly need to bring in help at tight end. That could mean elevating Giovanni Ricci from the practice squad or welcoming back Zylstra if his knee allows him to return.
Regardless of which direction the Lions take, one thing is clear: Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes are making aggressive, calculated decisions as Detroit pushes for a postseason berth. Every roster spot matters, every move has urgency, and no position—tight end included—is exempt from abrupt change.