Lions working out group of DBs on Monday

September 21, 2026

Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Detroit Lions are working out a group of defensive backs on Monday. Veteran safeties Jordan Fuller and Jalen Mills are among the group that will be working out for the Lions.

Fuller, 28, was originally a sixth-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Rams in 2020. Holmes was serving as the Rams‘ director of college scouting at the time Los Angeles selected Fuller.

The 6-foot-2, 203-pound safety has been slowed by injuries in recent seasons. A hamstring injury kept Fuller out for the majority of 2022. Another hamstring injury limited Fuller to just nine games played in 2024 with the Carolina Panthers. Fuller suffered a knee injury in Week 1 of last season with the Atlanta Falcons, was placed on injured reserve and wound up playing in just six games before being released in December. Atlanta would re-sign Fuller to its practice squad.

Fuller has started 56 games and played in 63 over the course of his NFL career, totaling 335 tackles, 18 passes defended, seven interceptions, and five forced fumbles.

Mills should be a familiar name for Lions fans as he spent the end of last season with Detroit. The Lions claimed Mills off waivers on Dec. 10. The 6-foot, 191-pound safety played in three games with the Lions, totaling 65 defensive snaps and 12 special teams snaps.

A seventh-round pick by the Eagles out of LSU, Mills has spent time with Philadelphia, New England, the New York Jets, Houston Texans, and the Lions.

Mills has played in 122 games and started 92, registering 460 tackles, 60 passes defended, 10 tackles for loss, eight interceptions, seven quarterback hits, three forced fumbles, 1.5 sacks, and one fumble recovery. He has also returned one interception for a touchdown.

This could be an indication that Lions defensive back Avonte Maddox‘s recent injury against the Bills could sideline him for an extended period of time. Lions head coach Dan Campbell was unsure of Maddox’s status immediately following Detroit’s 41-31 “Thursday Night Football” loss in Buffalo.

“I don’t know. Maddox is pretty tough, and so when he doesn’t come back, that makes me nervous. But I won’t know until tomorrow for sure,” Campbell said afterwards.

The Lions have also reportedly checked in on free agent and former Pro Bowl cornerback Kenny Moore II as they work to fix a defense and secondary that has surrendered 71 points in the season’s first two weeks.

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Lions vs. Bills: Best photos from ‘Thursday Night Football’

Detroit Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson (97), right, and defensive lineman Tyleik Williams (91) warm up ahead of the game between Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026.

(Junfu Han, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)