By Moses Joshua 
Detroit turns to a familiar face as injuries test depth in the secondary
The Detroit Lions are bracing for one of their toughest tests of the season, and as they prepare for their Week 15 road matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, the front office is wasting no time stabilizing a shorthanded secondary. A familiar veteran is reportedly on his way back to the 53-man roster — and the timing couldn’t be better.
A Needed Boost: Detroit Brings Back Arthur Maulet
According to multiple league reports, the Lions are bringing back cornerback Arthur Maulet, who spent earlier parts of the season on Detroit’s active roster before becoming a casualty of roster math. With returning players such as Marcus Davenport, Miles Frazier and Josh Paschal requiring immediate spots, general manager Brad Holmes was forced to make several difficult decisions — and Maulet, at the time, was on the outside looking in.
Now, the 32-year-old veteran is set for a return at a moment when the Lions need him most.
Added at midseason, Maulet appeared in six games for Detroit in 2025, tallying 14 tackles, two passes defensed, and one interception, while logging 105 defensive snaps in Kelvin Sheppard’s defensive scheme. Though his stint was brief, his presence brought reliability and experience to a secondary hit hard by injuries throughout the year.
Secondary Under Strain After Struggles vs. Dallas
Detroit’s defense showed resilience in its win over the Cowboys — but the performance was anything but clean for the back end of the defense. The Lions surrendered multiple explosive plays, leading several defenders to openly acknowledge the need for improvement.
Veteran defensive back D.J. Reed was especially candid about his outing.
“I had the task of going against CeeDee (Lamb) and to be honest, he got the better of me before he got hurt. And on the island, sometimes that’s how it goes,” Reed admitted. “And then I moved over to Pickens. They’re both phenomenal players. Sometimes, it’s a bad day in the office, but I’m glad we got the W.”
With looming uncertainty at safety — especially following Brian Branch’s torn Achilles and ongoing questions surrounding Kerby Joseph’s return — reinforcements were no longer optional; they were essential.
Exploring Options: Lions Host Veteran Safety With Front-Office Ties
In addition to bringing back Maulet, Detroit is exploring further depth options. According to the league’s transaction wire, the Lions hosted veteran safety John Johnson for a visit Monday. Johnson has deep ties to Brad Holmes, who helped draft him while working in the Los Angeles Rams’ front office.
Rams GM Les Snead once recalled Holmes’ confidence in Johnson as a prospect, saying:
“He was a huge John Johnson fan… I just remember Brad going, ‘You know what, we take John Johnson, we’re never looking back. He’s going to be good. This guy’s going to help us. Take need out of it.’ And at that point in time, you listen to the wisdom.”
With Detroit scrambling to stabilize its defensive backfield, Holmes’ familiarity with Johnson could play a critical role in determining whether the veteran safety becomes the next addition.
A Timely Reinforcement Before a Critical Stretch
As the Lions push for postseason positioning, every roster decision matters — and Maulet’s return signals a clear priority: reinforcing a defense preparing to face Matthew Stafford and one of the NFC’s most potent passing attacks.
Detroit’s path to January football will require resilience, execution, and depth. This latest move suggests the front office is doing everything possible to ensure the team has all three.