The Detroit Lions addressed a critical linebacker shortage by promoting familiar veteran Joe Bachie to the 53-man roster and signing K.J. Britt from the New England practice squad. This move comes immediately after the team placed rookie Jimmy Rolder on injured reserve with a season-ending hamstring injury, leaving the unit thin following Jack Campbell’s neck injury on Sunday. The club also added former Cardinals linebacker Owen Pappoe to the practice squad to bolster special teams depth. The Detroit Lions announced the roster moves on Wednesday afternoon.
Bachie, who has appeared in 66 NFL games with 77 total tackles, returns to a team where he spent time earlier this year before landing on the practice squad. He joins Britt, a veteran with 16 career starts and 35 tackles from his time with the Dolphins last season, in filling the void left by Campbell and Rolder. Head coach Dan Campbell noted that while the team has depth with Derrick Barnes, Malcolm Rodriguez, and Trevor Nowaske, the addition of these veterans provides necessary insurance while the team evaluates its options. The Lions signed Britt from the Patriots practice squad and added Bachie to the active roster.
With the pass defense ranking dead last in the NFL and the trade deadline approaching on November 10, analysts are identifying Miami Dolphins cornerback JuJu Brents as a potential target for Detroit. The Lions have already explored the market for cornerbacks, having previously engaged in talks for Joey Porter Jr. before he joined Dallas, and now face a glaring need at the position with Terrion Arnold released and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. benched. ESPN’s Aaron Schatz named Brents as a fit for the Lions to bolster their man-heavy scheme.
Brents, a former second-round pick by the Indianapolis Colts, is in the final year of his rookie contract and could be available for a Day 3 pick given his pending free agency status. While he has dealt with significant injuries, including a torn MCL and meniscus in 2024, he has shown flashes of high-level coverage when healthy, ranking third in coverage DVOA among qualifying cornerbacks this season. The Dolphins may be incentivized to trade him rather than lose him for nothing this offseason, though his trade value remains modest due to his injury history and contract situation.
Linebacker Jack Campbell released a statement from the hospital confirming he has full movement in his lower body and is making progress with his upper body mobility following his neck injury. Despite the optimism, Campbell remains on the 53-man roster but is not expected to return to action anytime soon, forcing the coaching staff to focus on the immediate challenge of the Miami Dolphins game. Campbell stated he has full movement in his lower body and is continuing to make progress with movement in his upper body.
The team is utilizing mental health resources to help players process the emotional weight of Campbell’s injury while preparing for Sunday’s matchup. Coach Dan Campbell stated that the only way to honor his captain is to prepare and play with the same intensity he brings every week. Campbell emphasized that the team must stay locked in to avoid wasting the effort required to honor their fallen leader. Defensive coordinator Scottie Montgomery echoed this sentiment, noting that the team will prepare exactly as Campbell would have, channeling their concern into on-field execution.
Injury Report Updates
Safety Brian Branch was listed as a limited participant in Wednesday’s walkthrough, marking his second day of practice since returning from a concussion. While historical precedent suggests he might miss the upcoming game against Miami, the limited practice participation keeps him in the mix for the Week 10 matchup against the New England Patriots. The Lions injury report listed both safeties as limited participants during the walkthrough.
Additional Injury Updates
Safety Kerby Joseph also practiced on a limited basis, continuing his rehabilitation from a knee injury that kept him on the PUP list at the start of the season. November 18 to activate him before he must be placed on season-ending injured reserve. Center Cade Mays remains out with an ankle injury, requiring Juice Scruggs to start, while defensive end DJ Wonnum is in the concussion protocol. The team is preparing to turn to Juice Scruggs against the Dolphins.
This article was created by aggregating Detroit Lions news using Artificial Intelligence.
