The Lions are taking a closer look at the defensive back market, and the group they’re set to work out Monday includes two familiar safety names: Jordan Fuller and Jalen Mills.
That report comes from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, who said Detroit will evaluate a batch of defensive backs when the team gets back from its extended break. Fuller and Mills are the two players Fowler specifically identified, while the rest of the group wasn’t listed.
Fuller is a name Brad Holmes should know well. Holmes was with the Rams as their director of college scouting when Los Angeles picked Fuller in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Fuller jumped into the lineup quickly, starting 12 games as a rookie at safety and finishing with three interceptions and five passes defended. He stayed in the starting role in 2021, but a hamstring injury limited him in 2022.
He started 17 games in 2023 before signing with the Panthers on a one-year, $3.25 million deal. Another hamstring issue cut into that season, and last year he played only six games with the Falcons.
Even with the injury history, Fuller has built a reputation as a physical, downhill defender. He’s been willing to mix it up in the run game, and his PFF run defense grade has stayed above 68 every season of his career. He’s also shown he can line up both near the box and as a deep safety.
Mills, meanwhile, already has a short recent history in Detroit. The 32-year-old safety joined the Lions off waivers in December after Brian Branch suffered his Achilles injury, then appeared in the final two games of the season. He logged 65 defensive snaps over that stretch.
Detroit has also reportedly shown interest in free agent cornerback Kenny Moore.
The timing of these workouts points to a couple of possible reasons. One is the injury to Avonte Maddox, who left Thursday’s game early with a foot injury and did not return. Dan Campbell didn’t have a firm update afterward, but he made it clear he wasn’t feeling great about the situation.
“I don’t know. Maddox is pretty tough, so when he doesn’t come back, that makes me nervous,” Campbell said. “But I won’t know until tomorrow for sure.”
The other reason is the play in the secondary, which has been shaky through two games. Saints quarterback Tyler Shough threw for 410 yards against Detroit in Week 1, and Bills quarterback Josh Allen followed that up by throwing for 248 yards and three touchdowns on Thursday.
There’s also the matter of the Lions’ current personnel situation. Safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph opened the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list, meaning they can’t play until Week 5 at the earliest. They are eligible to return to practice this week if they’re ready.
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