The Detroit Lions addressed their immediate safety void by signing rookie Bishop Fitzgerald off the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad, a move necessitated by the season-ending foot injury to Avonte Maddox. The acquisition adds a 2025 first-team All-American to a secondary that has struggled through the first two weeks, while the corresponding roster move saw veteran linebacker Joe Bachie released to clear a spot on the 53-man roster.
Fitzgerald arrives with a high ceiling despite going undrafted out of USC. He earned first-team All-American honors last season with 51 tackles and five interceptions in 10 starts for the Trojans. Fitzgerald posted a 90.3 overall defensive grade in 2025, ranking seventh among 910 qualified safeties. His coverage grade of 90.4 placed him eighth at the position, though his run-defense grade of 71.2 ranked significantly lower.
The move comes as head coach Dan Campbell actively scouted the market for veteran help and young prospects following the loss of Maddox. Campbell stated the team was looking for “promising young players” to poach from other teams’ practice squads. Fitzgerald joins a safety room that includes Chuck Clark, Thomas Harper, and Christian Izien, with Clark having started the last two games.
While Fitzgerald provides depth, the Lions remain without their starting duo of Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph. D.J. Reed noted after the loss to Buffalo that the revolving door at safety created communication issues within the secondary. Reed highlighted that different players bring different systems and thought processes, making consistency difficult until the starters return.
The Lions also signed veteran safety Jalen Mills to the practice squad earlier in the week to provide additional depth. Mills, a 32-year-old with 122 career appearances, worked out for Detroit alongside Mike Edwards and Jordan Fuller before the team settled on Fitzgerald. Mills previously played for Detroit last season, appearing in three games after Branch’s injury.
Aidan Hutchinson continues to perform despite the unit’s struggles, extending his franchise-record streak of consecutive games with a sack to eight. Hutchinson recorded a sack and forced fumble in the 41-31 loss to Buffalo, bringing his season total to three. The edge rusher has called for changes within the defense, stating that something must be done to stop the issues plaguing the team.
The Lions face the New York Jets in Week 3, a team that recently suffered a collapse against the Green Bay Packers due to offensive line failures. Detroit possesses the exact personnel required to replicate the Packers’ success by utilizing blitz packages to confuse the Jets’ protection. The defense will need to generate pressure without the benefit of a healthy secondary to cover for any blown assignments.
Secondary Shakeup
The transaction marks a significant shift in Detroit’s defensive personnel strategy. By removing Joe Bachie, the team signals a prioritization of the secondary over depth at linebacker. Fitzgerald. This decision reflects the urgency created by the defensive performance through two weeks, where the unit allowed 310.5 passing yards per game and 35.5 points per game.
Trade Rumors Persist
Despite the internal moves, external speculation regarding trade targets remains active. The Lions have contacted the Steelers regarding cornerback Joey Porter Jr., who could fit the scheme as a man-coverage specialist. The team has also been linked to safeties like Ifeatu Melifonwu and other cornerbacks, though no deal has been finalized.
Injury Outlook
The timeline for the starting safeties remains uncertain. Joseph will play again this season. Without a clear timetable for Branch or Joseph, Fitzgerald’s role is likely to expand quickly against a Jets offense that has shown vulnerability in pass protection.
This article was created by aggregating Detroit Lions news using Artificial Intelligence.
