The Detroit Lions continue to shuffle the deck as injuries mount, particularly in the secondary and tight end rooms. On Tuesday, the team brought back a familiar face, re-signing veteran cornerback Arthur Maulet to the 53-man roster. To make room, the Lions waived tight end Ross Dwelley - a notable move considering their thinning depth at the position.
Maulet’s return isn’t just a depth move - it’s a response to a secondary that’s been battered by injuries. The 9-year vet originally joined Detroit’s practice squad in early October and stepped into a key role when injuries forced the Lions to get creative in the defensive backfield.
His most memorable contribution came during Detroit’s win over the Buccaneers - the so-called “Legion of Whom” game - where he played as the team’s primary nickelback. Maulet racked up five tackles and came away with a crucial interception, showing the kind of veteran awareness and playmaking instincts that earned him more snaps in the following weeks.
He held down the nickel spot for three more games before the Lions began to get healthier at cornerback. But as quickly as he stepped in, Maulet was waived in late November when Khalil Dorsey returned from injured reserve.
That move also coincided with the team needing space for tight end Anthony Firkser and wideout Tom Kennedy. Now, with the secondary once again in flux, Maulet is back - and the timing couldn’t be more important.
Detroit’s defensive backfield is in rough shape. First-round rookie Terrion Arnold is done for the year with a shoulder injury.
Brian Branch reportedly tore his Achilles last week, a brutal blow to the Lions’ versatility on defense. And safety Kerby Joseph is still being evaluated for a knee injury that’s kept him sidelined.
In that context, Maulet’s experience and ability to play inside become even more valuable.
On the offensive side, the Lions made a surprising move by waiving Ross Dwelley, especially given their current tight end situation. Both Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright are on injured reserve with season-ending injuries - LaPorta dealing with a back issue and Wright with a neck injury. That leaves Detroit extremely thin at a position that’s been pivotal in Ben Johnson’s offense all year.
Dwelley had seen a decent amount of action lately - 47 snaps on Thanksgiving and another 18 in the Thursday night loss to Dallas. But last week, the Lions leaned more heavily on Anthony Firkser, who logged 35 offensive snaps and appears to be the current TE1 by usage.
As it stands now, Detroit has just two tight ends on the active roster: Firkser and Hayden Rucci. Rucci, an undrafted rookie picked up off waivers last week, didn’t see the field against Dallas but has logged 39 offensive snaps this season from his earlier stint with the Dolphins. The Lions also added Giovanni Ricci to the practice squad, giving them another option to evaluate as the week unfolds.
There was a glimmer of hope when the team opened the evaluation window on Shane Zylstra, but that was short-lived - he practiced once before being sidelined again with a new knee issue. With LaPorta and Wright out, and Zylstra’s status uncertain, the Lions are clearly still trying to piece together a workable tight end group as they head into the final stretch of the season.
This latest round of roster moves underscores where Detroit is right now: a playoff-caliber team dealing with attrition at key positions. Maulet’s return gives them a battle-tested option in the secondary, while the tight end room remains a work in progress. Expect more movement - and perhaps more creative personnel packages - as the Lions try to weather the storm and stay on track for a postseason push.