By Moses Joshua 
Lions reinforce secondary by signing veteran defensive backs as injuries pile up ahead of critical NFC stretch
Lions Scramble to Reinforce Banged-Up Secondary
The Detroit Lions continue to overhaul their secondary after losing standout defensive back Brian Branch to a season-ending Achilles tear suffered on the December 4 “Thursday Night Football” matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. Though Detroit pulled off a hard-fought win, the victory came at a tremendous cost — and the team has spent the past several days scrambling to recover.
With concerns mounting in what has been the most volatile unit of their defense, the Lions added two veteran safeties in the span of 72 hours, signaling a full-scale effort to stabilize the back end of their defense as the playoff race intensifies.
Lions Bring In Super Bowl Champion Jalen Mills
Detroit’s most notable move came on Wednesday, when the team signed Jalen Mills, a seasoned defensive back with a decade of NFL experience and a Super Bowl ring to his name.
Mills, 31, entered the league as a cornerback and spent his first five seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, starting 15 games during the team’s 2017–18 Super Bowl championship run. He later carved out key roles with the New England Patriots and New York Jets, shifting to safety two years ago before landing with the Houston Texans for the 2025 season.
This year, Mills appeared in four games for Houston, starting one. Over his 10-year career (119 games, 92 starts), he has produced 454 tackles, 59 pass breakups, 10 tackles for loss, eight interceptions and three forced fumbles — a résumé that instantly injects experience and versatility into Detroit’s battered secondary.
Kazee Adds Additional Veteran Depth
Detroit didn’t stop with Mills. On Tuesday, the team announced via X the signing of Damontae Kazee to the practice squad, adding yet another experienced defensive mind to the roster.
Kazee, one year older than Mills, has logged 111 games and 63 starts during his career as a member of the Atlanta Falcons, Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers, and most recently the Cleveland Browns. While his 2025 stint in Cleveland leaned heavily on special teams duties, his body of work tells a broader story:
- 363 tackles
- 24 passes defensed
- 17 interceptions
- 7 forced fumbles
Kazee’s arrival gives the Lions another battle-tested option should they need additional reinforcements, especially with multiple starters sidelined.
Playoff Push Intensifies as Lions Prepare for Rams
Despite enduring yet another injury-marred season, the Lions remain firmly in the NFC playoff picture. Holding an 8-5 record, Detroit sits third in the NFC North and just outside the playoff field as the conference’s No. 8 seed.
The road forward is anything but forgiving. In Week 15, Detroit travels to face the 10-3 Los Angeles Rams, the NFC’s current No. 1 seed and one of the league’s most balanced teams. After that, the Lions host the Pittsburgh Steelers before closing the season with divisional road games against Minnesota and Chicago.
According to NFL.com, Detroit’s postseason chances sit at 52% — but a win against the Rams could spike those odds to 72%, underscoring the magnitude of Sunday’s clash.