The Detroit Lions added a new face to their secondary on Tuesday, signing rookie defensive back Bishop Fitzgerald off the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad and onto the 53-man roster.
To clear room, Detroit moved on from veteran linebacker Joe Bachie.
The roster shuffle fits with what Lions coach Dan Campbell hinted at earlier in the week. After Avonte Maddox went down with a season-ending foot injury and was officially placed on injured reserve, Campbell said the team was looking for help at safety and exploring options around the league. Detroit also added veteran Jalen Mills to its practice squad earlier in the week.
“We had a workout this morning just looking for a veteran guy. And then we’re looking for some of these safeties that are on other teams right now that are promising young players that we could potentially poach and bring in and let them compete,” Campbell said.
Fitzgerald went undrafted this year after playing at NC State and USC. His 2025 season with the Trojans earned him First-Team All-Big Ten honors after he posted 51 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and five interceptions.
He originally signed with the Tennessee Titans after the draft but did not make their 53-man roster. He then landed on the Steelers’ practice squad, where he had spent the last three weeks before Detroit came calling.
Scouting reports on Fitzgerald describe a compact, ballhawking safety with the kind of alignment versatility teams like to work with. In coverage, he’s noted for being assignment-focused, with enough route balance and reaction quickness to handle work underneath.
He also shows an eye for takeaway chances and the ball skills to change a game. The knock comes when routes get vertical, since he may not have the speed to stay attached deep.
Against the run, he plays with urgency, but his play recognition and pursuit angles have led to chunk gains, leaving a split profile that impacted his draft stock.
Detroit still has an open roster spot after the Bachie move and Maddox’s placement on injured reserve, so more changes could still be coming before Sunday’s game against the New York Jets.
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