By Moses Joshua 
Kendall Fuller’s brief tenure ends as the Lions regain health and key defenders near their long-awaited return.
A Short Stay in the Motor City
The Detroit Lions’ revolving door in the secondary has spun once again. After bringing in veteran defensive back Kendall Fuller earlier this month to patch up an injury-riddled defense, the team has decided to move on just two weeks later.
According to SI.com’s John Maakaron, Detroit released Fuller from the practice squad early this week — a move that coincides with several key defenders nearing a return to action. While Fuller’s stay was brief, his presence provided valuable stability at a time when the Lions were scrambling to fill holes across the secondary.
Fuller, a seasoned cornerback with 128 career games and 104 starts across nine NFL seasons, joined the Lions after injuries decimated their depth chart. With D.J. Reed, Terrion Arnold, Ennis Rakestraw, Khalil Dorsey, and Avonte Maddox all sidelined at various points, Detroit needed an experienced hand to help steady the ship.
Terrion Arnold’s Return Signals Optimism
The release of Fuller may be less about his performance and more about the Lions getting healthier. Maakaron noted that first-round pick Terrion Arnold is expected to return to practice this week — a major boost for a defense that has been forced to rely heavily on reserves and practice-squad call-ups.
Head coach Dan Campbell expressed optimism when asked about Arnold’s progress:
“We’re getting some guys back to practice, which that’s the number one thing,” Campbell said. “We’ll take a good look at Arnold … he feels good. He says he feels good. And he has been kind of running around a little bit, but we’ll be padded up tomorrow, and so we’ll get a really good look at him.”
Arnold’s anticipated return against the Minnesota Vikings could stabilize Detroit’s secondary, which has held its own despite being one of the most injury-depleted units in the NFC.
More Reinforcements on the Way
The good news doesn’t stop there for Detroit. The Lions also expect linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez — who tore his ACL last Thanksgiving — to return to practice this week. His recovery adds depth to a linebacking corps that has remained one of the team’s strongest units despite multiple injuries.
Jeremy Reisman of Pride of Detroit added that safety Daniel Thomas has also entered his evaluation window after recovering from a broken forearm sustained in Week 3. Thomas, a special teams cornerstone, could soon reclaim his role as a gunner and provide much-needed depth in the secondary.
“Since Thomas’ injury, the Lions have had to rely on the likes of Thomas Harper and Erick Hallett as safety depth,” Reisman wrote. “In their last game, Dominic Lovett and Isaac TeSlaa held the gunner roles.”
Meanwhile, running back Sione Vaki — another special teams contributor — is nearing his own return, giving Detroit even more flexibility across multiple phases of the game.
The Bottom Line
While Kendall Fuller’s time in Detroit was short-lived, his presence came during a critical stretch when the Lions desperately needed veteran leadership in the locker room. Now, with reinforcements on the way and several key players returning to practice, Detroit’s defense is poised to regain its full strength just as the playoff push begins.
For a team eyeing a deep postseason run, timing couldn’t be better — even if it means saying goodbye to a proven veteran like Fuller.