By Mummy Grace 
Lions Getting Healthier, Make Moves in the Secondary
Good news, Lions fans! The team’s secondary is healing up, and with that comes some roster shuffling. Detroit has decided to cut ties with veteran defensive back Jamal Adams, who was brought in late in the season to provide extra depth.
The Lions announced on January 1 that Adams was released from the practice squad. He joined the team in December after being let go by the Titans. While he got called up for a couple of games, the return of another key player squeezed him out of the mix.
Jamal Adams’ Short Stint in Detroit
As Jeff Risdon from USA Today’s Lions Wire pointed out, Adams became “expendable” once safety Ifeatu Melifonwu returned to action.
“In two games as a practice squad elevation, Adams played sparingly and primarily as a nickel LB,” Risdon explained. “He recorded three tackles between Week 14 and Week 15. The healthy return of Ifeatu Melifonwu, who plays primarily in the same role as a box safety/heavy slot, made Adams expendable.”
Melifonwu started the season on the sidelines nursing an ankle injury, eventually landing on IR in Week 4. He came back strong in December, starting a couple of games and racking up eight tackles, including one for a loss.
Adams, on the other hand, saw limited action in Detroit. Across two games, he played just 20 defensive snaps but managed to tally three tackles. With the Titans earlier this season, he played three games, starting once and making four tackles.
Now, Adams is back on the market, looking for a potential landing spot with a playoff team that needs some extra depth.
More Good News for the Lions
The Lions haven’t had the easiest season on the injury front—losing Aidan Hutchinson to a fractured leg was a brutal blow—but they might be getting a major boost ahead of their huge season finale. Head coach Dan Campbell hinted that linebacker and team captain Alex Anzalone could make his return after being sidelined with a broken forearm.
“We’ll see. He’s doing well,” Campbell told reporters, per the Detroit News. “He’s close, he’s really close.”
Anzalone got hurt during Detroit’s win over Jacksonville on November 17 and hasn’t played since. If he’s back for Sunday’s game, it’ll be just in time for what’s shaping up to be an epic showdown.
NFC North Showdown
Sunday’s matchup between the Lions and Vikings is massive. Both teams are sitting at 14-2, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. The winner grabs the NFC North title and the top seed in the playoffs. The loser? They’ll be the first-ever 14-win team to enter the postseason as a wild card, starting their playoff journey on the road.
Campbell isn’t letting the hype get to him, though. He’s all about the preparation.
“For where we’re at, it’s the next one and it is exciting,” Campbell said, per the Detroit Free Press. “But we all know it’s still going to come down to the prep. We’ve got to put the work in.”
With so much on the line, Lions fans better buckle up—this one’s going to be a rollercoaster.