Lions' Secondary Depth Tested as Injuries Mount Ahead of Rams Matchup
As the Detroit Lions head west for a crucial Week 15 showdown with the Los Angeles Rams, they’ll be doing so without a few key pieces-particularly in the secondary. On Saturday, the team officially downgraded safety Thomas Harper (concussion) and offensive lineman Christian Mahogany (fibula) to out, adding to an already growing list of unavailable starters.
Let’s start with the defensive backfield, where things are getting thin in a hurry. With Kerby Joseph already ruled out and Brian Branch likely headed to injured reserve, the Lions were hoping Harper could clear concussion protocol and line up next to Anthony Maddox.
Harper practiced all week, which is usually a promising sign in the NFL’s return-to-play process, but ultimately, he didn’t get the final medical green light. That’s a tough blow for a defense already scrambling to patch holes in the secondary.
So now, Detroit is staring down Sunday with its top three safeties sidelined-and no obvious answer for who’ll start alongside Maddox. Veteran Daniel Thomas is the most experienced option on the roster, but he’s been used primarily on special teams this season. He brings energy and leadership, but stepping into a starting safety role against a high-powered Rams offense is a big ask.
The team did claim Jalen Mills off waivers earlier this week, and while he brings starting experience from his time with the Patriots and Eagles, it’s a stretch to expect him to be game-ready after just a few days of practice in a new system.
That leaves Erick Hallett as the most intriguing option. Currently on the practice squad, Hallett has already started a game for the Lions this season-back in Week 7 against Tampa Bay-and he’s been getting reps in practice. Head coach Dan Campbell didn’t hesitate to mention him when discussing the team’s contingency plans at safety.
“We’ll be good,” Campbell said Friday. “Look, Hallett’s been taking reps, DT’s been taking reps, Maddox has been taking reps.
We’ve got plenty of guys. They’re getting valuable reps, so we’re good.”
That’s classic Campbell-confident, forward-looking, and trusting in his depth. But make no mistake: this will be a big test for the Lions’ secondary. The Rams, led by Matthew Stafford, have been heating up offensively, and Detroit’s back end will need to hold up under pressure.
On the offensive side, the Lions were also hoping to get a boost from rookie guard Christian Mahogany, who began his injury evaluation window this week. But despite some optimism, he wasn’t quite ready, and the team officially ruled him out, keeping him on injured reserve for at least one more week. There’s still time for him to return-he’s got two weeks left in his 21-day window-but it looks like Week 16 against the Steelers is a more realistic target.
In Mahogany’s absence, Kayode Awosika is the expected starter at left guard. That is, if his foot injury doesn’t hold him back.
If he’s unable to go, Detroit could turn again to Trystan Colon, who filled in last week. There’s also a chance we see rookie Miles Frazier get some planned reps, even if he doesn’t start.
The coaching staff is eager to get him more experience, and this could be the perfect opportunity to ease him into a bigger role.
Bottom line: the Lions are entering a tough road matchup with some major lineup questions. The secondary is banged up, the offensive line is juggling options, and the Rams are no pushovers.
But if there’s one thing we’ve learned about this Detroit team under Dan Campbell, it’s that they don’t flinch. Sunday will be a test of depth, resilience, and next-man-up mentality-and the Lions are about to find out just how deep they can dig.